A' 
HINDOO TALES 

OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TEN PRINCES 



FREELY TRANSLATED FROM THE SANSCRIT OF THE 
DASAKUMARACHARITAM 

BY 

P. W. JACOB 



STRAHAN & CO. 

56 LUDGATE HILL, LONDON 

1873 



.H4-JQ3 

IST3 



LONDON : 

PRINTED BY VIRTUE AND CO., 

CITY ROAD. 



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KJ$ 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



n^HE Sanscrit work entitled " Dasakumara- 
charitam, or the Adventures of Ten 
Princes/' though printed more than twenty- 
five years ago, has not, as far as I can ascertain, 
been translated into any European language. 
Many parts of it are written in such a turgid 
" Oriental " style, that a close translation 
would be quite unsuitable to the English 
reader. Such passages have therefore been 
much condensed ; others, which are hardly 
decent — or, as in the speech of the parasite 
in the last story, tedious and uninteresting, 
have been omitted ; but in general the original 



VI PREFACE. 



has been pretty closely adhered to, and no- 
thing has been added to it. 

The exact date of the composition of the 
"Dasakumaracharitam " is not known. It is 
supposed to have been written about the end 
of the eleventh century, and was left un- 
finished by the author ; but as the story of 
the last narrator is almost finished, not much 
could have been wanting to complete the work, 
and the reader may easily imagine what the 
conclusion would have been. 

Some of the incidents correspond with 
those of the " Arabian Nights," but the 
stories on the whole are quite different from 
anything found there, and give a lively pic- 
ture of Hindoo manners and morals. Unscru- 
pulous deception, ready invention, extreme 
credulity and superstition, and disregard of 
human life, are strongly illustrated. 



PREFACE. 



The belief in the power of penance, which 
was supposed to confer on the person prac- 
tising it not merely personal sanctity, but 
even great supernatural powers, w T as very 
generally entertained among the Hindoos, 
and is often alluded to here ; as is also 
transmigration, or the birth of the soul after 
death in a new body, human or brute. 
Sufferings or misfortunes are attributed to 
sins committed in a former existence, and in 
more than one story two persons are supposed 
to recollect having many years before lived 
together as husband and wife. 

Much use also is made of the agency of 
supernatural beings ; for besides numerous 
gods, the Hindoos believe, or at least believed, 
in the existence of innumerable beings, in 
some degree immortal, but liable to be killed 
even by men, swarming in the air, generally 



Vlll PREFACE. 



invisible, but sometimes assuming a human 
or a more terrible form ; occasionally benefi- 
cent, but more commonly injurious to human 
beings. 

At the time when the original work was 
written, India appears to have been divided 
into a large number of small kingdoms or 
principalities, the rulers of which are here 
termed "Raja," a word almost adopted into our 
language, but which I have rendered by the 
equivalent and more familiar term " King." 

The numerous uncouth names, which cannot 
well be shortened or translated, will, it is 
feared, cause some annoyance to the reader. 
As many as possible have been omitted, and 
of those which occur a list is given in the 
Appendix, together with a few terms which 
seemed to require explanation. This will 
save the reader the trouble of referring, when 



PREFACE. IX 



a name recurs, to the place where it is first 
mentioned in order to find out to whom it 
belongs. 

The Appendix also contains a few pages of 
a very close literal translation, which will 
enable the reader to form some idea of the 
nature and style of the original, and to see 
how far it has been departed from in the 
preceding pages. 

P. W. J. 

Guildford, December, 1872. 



PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES. 

The vowel a, is always to be pronounced as in father. 

a, as in America, or as u in dull, i in bird, &c. 

e, always as a in cake. 

/, as e in cede, or ee in reed. 

z, as in pin. 

w, as in flute. 

u, as in bull. 
Pati is therefore pronounced putty, &c. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

translator's preface V 

ADVENTURES OF SOMADATTA 4 1 

ADVENTURES OF PUSHBODBHAVA . . . . * 5* 

MARRIAGE OF AVANTISUNDARI 68 

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF RAJAVAHANA . . .87 

ADVENTURES OF APAHARAVARMA 102 

ADVENTURES OF UPAHARAVARMA l6l 

-^ADVENTURES OF ARTHAPALA I9I 

ADVENTURES OF PRAM ATI 220 

ADVENTURES OF MITRAGUPTA 244 

ADVENTURES OF MANTRAGUPTA 295 

ADVENTURES OF VISRUTA 320 

LITERAL TRANSLATIONS 358 

PROPER NAMES OCCURRING IN THE TALES . . -372 



*npHERE was formerly, in the most 'fertile 
part of India, a city called Pushpapuri, 
the capital of Magadha, magnificent as a 
mine of jewels, abounding in every kind of 
wealth, surpassing all other cities in splendour 
and prosperity. 

The sovereign of this city and country was 
Rajahansa, whose armies were formidable 
with countless elephants and horses, whose 
glory was unsullied as the moon in a cloudless 
sky, or the plumage of the swan, and whose 
fame was sung even by celestial minstrels. 
Though a terror to his enemies, he was be- 

B 



HINDOO TALES. 



loved by all his subjects, and especially by the 
learned and pious brahmans, who were con- 
tinually employed in prayers and sacrifices 
to the gods, for the welfare of the king and 
his people. 

The queen Vasumati was worthy of such 
a husband. She was of high birth and of a 
sweet temper, and so great was her beauty that 
it seemed as if the god of love had formed her 
for his own special delight, by uniting in her 
single person everything that is most beautiful 
in the world. 

Among the king's counsellors were three 
appointed to the highest offices of state, men 
of great probity and intelligence, who had 
been long in his father's service and enjoyed 
his entire confidence. Their names were, 
Dharmapala, Padmodbhava, and Sitavarma, 

The first of these had three sons, Sumantra, 



HINDOO TALES. 



Sumittra, and Kamapala ; the second, two, 
Susruta and Ratnodbhava ; and the last had 
also two, Sumati and Satyavarma. 

Of these sons the last-mentioned renounced 
worldly cares and employments, devoted him- 
self to religious meditation, and leaving home 
as a pilgrim, travelled into many countries in 
order to visit the holy places which they 
contained. 

Kamapala was of an opposite character ; he 
thought only of present pleasure, frequented 
the company of gamblers and harlots, and 
roamed about the world seeking amusement 
and dissipation. 

Ratnodbhava became a merchant, and in 
the way of traffic made many long journeys 
by land and sea. The other sons, after their 
fathers' death, succeeded to their offices, 
according to the custom of the country. 



HINDOO TALES. 



When Rajahansa had reigned some years, 
war broke out between him and the king of 
the adjoining country of Malwa, the haughty 
and ambitious Manasara, whom he marched 
to encounter with a numerous army, making 
the earcn tremble with the tread of his 
elephants, and disturbing even the dwellers 
in the sky with the clang of kettledrums 
louder than the roar of the stormy ocean. 

Both armies were animated by equal rage, 
and terrible was the battle ; the ground 
where they met was first turned to dust by 
the wheels of the chariots and the trampling 
of men and beasts, and then into mud 
through the streams of blood which flowed 
from the slain and wounded. 

At last Rajahansa was victorious, the 
enemy was completely defeated, their king 
taken prisoner, and all Malwa lay open to 



HINDOO TALES. 



the conqueror. He, however, having no 
wish to enlarge his dominions, released his 
prisoner on very easy terms, and returning 
to Pushpapuri, thought only of governing 
his own kingdom in peace, not expecting 
after such generous treatment any further 
trouble from his ambitious neighbour. 

Though prosperous and happy in every 
other respect, the King of Magadha had 
one great cause of sorrow and anxiety — he 
had no son to succeed him. Therefore, at 
this time he made many prayers and offer- 
ings to Narayana the Creator of the World, 
who, having been thus propitiated, signified 
to the queen in a dream that she would 
bear a son ; and not long afterwards her 
husband was gratified by the news of her 
pregnancy. 

When the proper time arrived the king 



HINDOO TALES. 



celebrated the ceremony called Simanta* with 
great magnificence, and invited several of the 
neighbouring kings to be present on the 
occasion ; among them was the King of 
Mithila, with his queen, a great friend of 
Vasumati — to congratulate whom she had 
accompanied her husband. 

One day after this, when the king was sitting 
in council with his ministers, he was informed 
that a certain venerable Yati was desirous to 
see him. On his admission the king perceived 
that he was one of his secret emissaries ; dis- 
missing, therefore, the rest of the counsellors, 
he withdrew to a private apartment, followed 
by one or two of his most confidential ministers 
and the supposed Yati. He, bowing down to 
the ground, said in answer to the king's 

* A religious ceremony on behalf of a woman at a certain 
period of pregnancy. 



HINDOO TALES. 



inquiry, " In order the better to perform your 
Majesty's commands, I have adopted this safe 
disguise, and have resided for some time in the 
capital of Malwa, from whence I now bring 
very important news. The haughty Manasara, 
brooding over his defeat, unmindful of your 
generous forbearance, and only anxious to 
wipe off his disgrace, has been for a long time 
endeavouring to propitiate with very severe 
penance the mighty Siva, wiiose temple is 
at Mahakala, and he has so far succeeded 
that the god has given him a magic club, 
very destructive of life and conducive to vic- 
tory. 

" Through this weapon, and the favour of 
Siva, he now thinks himself a match for you. 
He has for some time been strengthening his 
army, and will probably very soon invade 
this country. Your Majesty having received 



HINDOO TALES. 



this information, will decide what ought to 
be done." 

On hearing this report the ministers con- 
sulted together and said to the king, " This 
enemy is coming against us favoured by the 
gods, and you cannot hope to resist him ; we 
therefore advise that you should avoid fight- 
ing, and retire with your family and treasure 
to a strong fortress/' 

Although they urged this advice with many 
reasons, it was not acceptable to the king, who 
determined to march at the head of his army 
against the invaders. When, however, the 
enemy had actually entered the country, the 
ministers succeeded in persuading their master 
to send away the queen and her attendants, 
and a part of the treasure, to a strong fortress 
in the forest of Vindhya, guarded by veteran 
soldiers. 



HINDOO TALES. 



Presently the two- armies met, the battle 
raged furiously, and Manasara, eagerly seeking 
out his former conqueror, at last encountered 
his chariot. Wielding the magic club, with 
one blow he slew the charioteer and caused 
the king to fall dowm senseless. 

The horses being freed from control, sud- 
denly turned round, dashed off at full speed 
from the field, and never stopped till, utterly 
exhausted, they had dragged the chariot w T ith 
the still insensible king very near to the 
fortress to which the queen had retreated. 

Meanwhile, some of the fugitives from the 
battle, having reached the fortress, told the 
queen what had happened, and she, over- 
whelmed by grief at the death of her husband, 
determined not to survive him. Perceiving 
her purpose, the old brahmans and faith- 
ful counsellors, who had accompanied her, 



HINDOO TALES. 



endeavoured to dissuade her, saying, " O 
glorious lady, we have no certain information 
of the king's death : moreover, learned astro- 
logers have declared that the child to be 
born of you is destined to become a mighty 
sovereign, therefore do not act rashly or 
end so precious a life while the least hope 
remains." 

Apparently influenced by these reasons, 
eloquently urged, the queen remained silent, 
and seemed to renounce her purpose, but at 
midnight, unable to sleep, and oppressed by 
intolerable grief, she rose up, and evading her 
sleeping attendants and the guards outside, 
went into the forest, and there, after many 
passionate lamentations and prayers that she 
might rejoin her beloved husband, she formed 
a rope by twisting a part of her dress, and 
was preparing to hang herself with it from the 



HINDOO TALES. II 

branch of a tree, very near to the place where 
the chariot was standing concealed by the 
thick foliage. 

Just then the king, revived by the cool 
night wind, recovered consciousness, and 
hearing his wife's voice, softly called her by 
name. She, hardly believing her senses for 
joy, cried out loudly for help, and soon brought 
to her assistance some of the attendants, who 
carried him gently into the fort, where his 
wounds were dressed and found not to be 
dangerous. 

After a short time, more of those who had 
escaped joined the king; and when he was 
sufficiently recovered, the charming Vasumati, 
instructed by the ministers, said to him, "All 
your dominions are lost except this fortress ; 
but such is the power of fate ; prosperity, 
like a bubble on the water, or a flash of light- 



HINDOO TALES. 



ning, appears and disappears in a moment. 
Former kings, Ramachandra and others, at 
least as great as yourself, were deprived of 
their kingdoms, and suffered for a long time 
the hardships of adversity ; yet, through 
patience and perseverance and the will of 
fate, they were at last restored to all their 
former splendour. Do you therefore imitate 
them, and, laying aside all anxiety, devote 
yourself to prayer and meditation. " 

To this advice the king gave ear, and went 
to consult a very celebrated rishi, Vamadeva, 
intending, under his directions, to engage in 
such penance as might lead to the accomplish- 
ment of his wishes. 

Having been well received by the holy man, 
he said to him : " O father, having heard of 
your great piety and wisdom, I have come 
hither for guidance and help in a great 



HINDOO TALES. 13 



calamity. Manasara, King of Malwa, has 
overcome me, and now holds the kingdom 
which ought to be mine. I will shrink from 
no penance which you shall advise, if by such 
means I may obtain the favour of the eods, 
and be restored to my former power/' 

Vamadeva, well acquainted with all past, 
present, and future events, thus answered him: 
" O friend, there is no need of penance in your 
case ; only wait patiently ; a son will certainly 
be born to )"ou who will crush all your 
enemies and restore your fortunes." Then a 
voice was heard in the air, saying, " This is 
true." 

The king, fully believing the prophecy 
of the muni, thus miraculously confirmed, 
returned to the forest, resolved to await 
patiently the fulfilment of the promise ; and 
shortly afterwards the queen brought forth a 



14 HINDOO TALES. 

son possessing all good marks,* to whom his 
father gave the name of Rajavahana. 

About the same time also sons were born 
to his four ministers. They were named 
severally Pramati, Mitragupta, Mantragupta, 
and Visruta, and were brought up together 
with the young prince. 

Some time after the birth of these children, 
a certain muni brought a very beautiful boy 
to the king, and said : " Having gone lately 
into the forest to collect kusa-grassf and fuel, 
I met a woman, evidently in great distress. 
When I questioned her, she wiped away her 
tears, and told me, with a voice broken by 
sobs, that she was a servant of Praharavarma, 

* The Hindoos attach much importance to certain marks on 
the body, such as the lines on the hands, &c. 

f Kusa-grass, or kuskus, is used for strewing the floor of a 
sacrificial enclosure, for laying offerings on, and for other sacred 
uses. 



HINDOO TALES. 



King of Mithila — that he, with his family, 
had gone to Pushpapuri, to be present at the 
Simanta festival of the queen, and had stayed 
there some time after the departure of the 
other guests ; that at that time the King of 
Malwa, furnished with a magic weapon, had 
invaded the country ; that in the battle which 
ensued, Praharavarma had assisted his friend 
with the few soldiers who accompanied him, 
and had been taken prisoner, but had been 
liberated by the conqueror ; that on his return 
he had been attacked in the forest by Bheels, 
and had repulsed them with difficulty. ' I and 
my daughter/ she continued, ' who had charge 
of the king's twin children, were separated 
from the rest in the confusion, and lost our way 
in the forest. There we suddenly came upon a 
tiger. In my fright, I stumbled and fell, and 
dropped the child, which I w-as carrying, on 



l6 HINDOO TALES. 

the carcase of a cow with which the tiger had 
been engaged. At that moment an arrow 
struck and killed the tiger. I fainted away, 
and when I recovered, I found myself quite 
alone ; my daughter had disappeared, and the 
child, as I suppose, was carried off by the 
Bheels, who shot the beast. After a time I 
was found by a compassionate cowherd, who 
took care of me till my wounds were healed ; 
and I am now wandering about in the hope 
of finding the boy, and of hearing some tidings 
of my daughter and the other child/ After 
giving me this account, she went on her way 
again, and I, distressed that the son of your 
majesty's friend should be in such hands, 
determined to set out in search of him. 

" After some days I came to a small temple 
of Durga, where a party of Bheels were about 
to make the child an offering to the goddess, 



HINDOO TALES. 



in the hope of obtaining success through her 
favour ; and they were then deliberating in 
what manner they should kill him, whether 
by hanging him on the branch of a tree and 
cutting him to pieces with swords, or by partly 
burying him in the ground and shooting at 
him with arrows, or by worrying him with 
young dogs. 

" Then I went up to them very humbly, and 
said : ' O Kiratas, I am an old brahman ; 
having lost my way in the forest, I laid down 
my child whom I was carrying, while I went 
away for a moment to try to find an opening 
out of the dense thicket ; when I came back 
he w T as gone. I have been searching for him 
ever since ; have 5^ou seen him }' * Is this 
your child ?' said they. i O, yes 1 / I exclaimed. 
' Take him, then/ they replied ; ' we respect a 
brahman/ Thus I got possession of the boy, 

c 



HINDOO TALES. 



and, blessing them for their kindness, took 
him away as quickly as possible, and have 
now brought him here, thinking he w T ill be 
best under your majesty's protection." 

The king, though grieved at the calamity of 
his friend, rejoiced that the child was saved 
from such a death ; and giving him the name 
of Upaharavarma, had him brought up as his 
own son. 

Not long after this, Rajahansa went to bathe 
at a holy place, and in returning, as he passed 
by a group of Chandalas, he observed a woman 
carrying a very beautiful boy. Being struck 
by the appearance of the child, he said : 
" Where did you get this beautiful boy, who 
is like a king's son ? Surely he is not your 
own child ! pray tell me." 

She answered : " When the Bheels attacked 
and plundered the King of Mithila near our 



HINDOO TALES. 1 9 

village, this child was picked up and brought 
to me by my husband, and I have taken care 
of him ever since." 

The king being convinced that this was the 
other child of his friend, the King of Mithila, 
by fair words and gifts induced the woman to 
give him up, and took him to the queen, giving 
him the name of Apaharavarma, and begging 
her to bring him up with her own son. 

Soon afterwards, a disciple of Vamadeva 
brought a beautiful boy to the king, and said : 
4k As I was returning from a pilgrimage to 
Ramatirtha, I saw an old woman earning this 
child, and asked her how she came to be 
wandering there. In answer to my questions, 
she told me her story, saj'ing, 'I was the 
servant of a rich man, named Kalagupta, 
living in the island of Kalayavana, and I 
waited on his daughter Suvritta. One dav a 



20 HINDOO TALES. 

young merchant, named Ratnodbhava, son of 
a minister of the King of Magadha, arrived 
in the island, and having become acquainted 
with my master, he married his beautiful 
daughter. 

" * After some time, he was desirous of visit- 
ing his family, and being unwilling to leave 
behind his young wife, who was then not far 
from childbirth, he took her with him, and 
me as her nurse. 

" ' We embarked on board a ship, and had 
at first a favourable voyage ; but when ap- 
proaching the land, we were overtaken by a 
storm, and a great wave broke over the ship, 
which went down almost immediately. I found 
myself in the water near my young mistress, 
and managed to support her till we got hold 
of a plank, by means of which we at last 
reached the shore. Whether my master was 



HINDOO TALES. 



saved or not I do not know, but I fear that he 
perished with the rest of those on board, whom 
we never saw again. 

" ' The coast where we landed appeared to 
be uninhabited, and the poor lady, being 
unable to w r alk far, after much suffering of 
mind and body, gave birth to this child under 
a tree in the forest. I have just left her, in the 
hope of finding some village where I may 
obtain assistance ; and by her wish I have 
brought the child with me, since she is in- 
capable of taking care of it/ 

" The woman had hardly finished speaking 
when a wild elephant, breaking through the 
bushes, came suddenly upon us, and she was 
so frightened that she let the child fall, and 
ran away. 

" I hid myself behind a tree, and saw the 
elephant take up the child with his trunk, as 



22 HINDOO TALES. 

if about to put it into its mouth. At that 
moment he was attacked by a lion, and let the 
child fall. When the two beasts had moved 
from the spot, I came from my hiding-place 
just in time to see the child taken up by a 
monkey, who ran up a high tree. Presently 
the beast let the child drop, and as it fell on a 
leafy branch, I took it up uninjured by the fall, 
or the other rough treatment which it had 
received. 

" After searching for the woman some time 
in vain, I took the child to my master, the 
great muni Vamadeva, and I have now brought 
it to you by his command." 

The king, astonished at the preservation 
of the child under such adverse circum- 
stances, and hoping that Ratnodbhava 
might have escaped from the shipwreck, sent 
for Susruta to take charge of his brother's 



HINDOO TALES. 



child, to whom he gave the name of Pushpod- 
bhava. 

Some days after this the queen went up to 
her husband with a child in her arms, and 
told him, when he expressed his surprise : 
" Last night I was suddenly awakened from 
sleep and saw a beautiful lady standing before 
me, holding this child. She said to me : ' O 
queen, I am a Yaksha, daughter of Manib- 
hadra, and wife of Kamapala, the son of your 
husband's late minister, Dharmapala ; by com- 
mand of Kuvera, I have brought this my child to 
you, that he may enter the sendee of your son, 
who is destined to become a mighty monarch ' 

" I was too much astonished to ask her any 
question, and she, having laid down the child 
near me, disappeared." 

The king, greatly surprised, especially that 
Kamapala should have married a Yaksha, 



24 HINDOO TALES. 



sent for the child's uncle, Sumittra, and 
committed the boy to his care, giving him the 
name of Arthapala. 

Not long after this another disciple of 
Vamadeva brought a very beautiful child to 
the king, and said : " My lord, I have lately 
been on a pilgrimage to several holy places, 
and on my way back, happening to be on the 
bank of the river Kavari, I saw a woman 
carrying this child, and evidently in great 
distress. On being questioned by me, she 
wiped away her tears, and with difficulty told 
me her story, saying, ' O brahman, Satyavarma, 
the youngest son of Sitavarma, a minister of 
the King of Magadha, after travelling about 
a long time, visiting all holy places as a pil- 
grim, came to this country, and here married 
a Brahman's daughter, named Kali. Having 
no children by her, he took as his second wife 



HINDOO TALES. 25 

her sister Gauri, and by her he had one son, 
this child. 

" ' Then the first wife, envious of her sister, 
determined to destroy the child ; and having, 
with some false pretence, enticed me, when 
I was carrying the child, to the bank of the 
river, she pushed us in. I contrived to hold 
my charge with one hand, and to swim with 
the other till I met with an uprooted tree 
carried down by the rapid current. To this I 
clung, and after floating a long distance, was 
able at last to land at this place ; but in getting 
away from the tree I disturbed a black serpent 
which had taken refuge there, and having 
been bitten by it, I now feel that I am dying/ 
As she spoke, the poison began to take greater 
effect, and she fell on the ground. 

" After trying in vain the power of charms, 
I went to look for some herb which might 



26 HINDOO TALES. 



serve as an antidote ; but when I returned the 
poor creature was dead. 

" I was much perplexed at this occurrence, 
especially as she had not told me the name of 
the village from which she came, nor could I 
conjecture how far off it might be, so that I 
was unable to take the child to its father. 

"Therefore, after collecting wood and burn- 
ing the body, I have brought the child to you, 
thinking that he will be best taken care of 
under your protection." 

The king, astonished that so many children 
should have been brought in such a wonderful 
manner, and distressed at not knowing where 
to find Satyavarma, gave the child the name 
of Somadatta, and committed him to the care 
of his uncle, Sumati, who received him with 
great affection. 

These nine boys, thus wonderfully collected 



HINDOO TALES. 27 

together, became the associates and play- 
fellows of the young prince, and were edu- 
cated together with him. 

When they were all nearly seventeen, their 
education was regarded as complete, for they 
had not only been taught the vedas and the 
commentaries on them, several languages, 
grammar, logic, philosophy, &c, but were 
well acquainted with poetry, plays, and all 
sorts of tales and stories ; were accomplished 
in drawing and music, skilled in games, 
sleight of hand and various tricks, and prac- 
tised in the use of weapons. They were 
also bold riders and drivers of horses and 
elephants ; and even clever thieves, able to 
steal without detection ; so that Rajahansa 
was exceedingly delighted at seeing his son 
surrounded by a band of such brave, active, 
clever companions and faithful followers. 



28 HINDOO TALES. 



One day about this time Vamadeva came to 
visit the king, by whom he was received 
with great respect and reverence. Seeing 
the prince perfect in beauty, strength, and 
accomplishments, and surrounded by such 
companions, he said to Rajahansa: "Your 
wish for a son has indeed been fully gratified, 
since you have one who is all that you could 
desire. It is now time for him to go out into 
the world and prepare himself for the career 
of conquest to which he is destined." 

The king listened respectfully to the advice 
of the muni, and determined to be guided by 
it ; having therefore given his son good advice, 
he sent him forth at a propitious hour, to 
travel about in search of adventure, accom- 
panied by his nine friends. 

After travelling for some days, they entered 
the forest of Vindhya, and when halting there 



HINDOO TALES. 29 

for the night they saw a rough-looking man, 
having all the appearance of a Bheel, but 
wearing the sacred cord which is the charac- 
teristic of a brahman. 

The prince, surprised at such an incongruity, 
asked him wiio he was, how he came to be 
living in such a wild place, and how, w T ith all 
the appearance of a forester, he was wearing 
the brahminical cord. 

The man, seeming to be aware that his 
questioner was a person of importance, 
answered respectfully, " O prince, there are 
in this forest certain nominal brahmans, who, 
having abandoned the study of the vedas, 
religious obligations, and family duties, are 
devoted to all sorts of sinful practices, and act 
as leaders of robber bands, associating with 
their followers and living as they live. 

" I, Matanga by name, am the son of one 



30 HINDOO TALES. 

of these, and was brought up to be a robber 
like them. Since I have been grown up I have 
often assisted in plundering expeditions, when 
they would fall suddenly on some defenceless 
village, and carry away not only all the 
property on which they could lay their hands, 
but several of the richest of the inhabitants, 
whom they would keep prisoners till a ransom 
had been paid, or till, compelled by torture, 
they confessed where their money was con- 
cealed. 

" On one of these occasions, when my com- 
panions were ill-treating a brahman, I was 
seized by a sudden feeling of compassion 
and remonstrated with them. Finding words 
of no avail, I stood before him, and was 
killed by my own men while fighting on his 
behalf. 

"After death I went down to the regions 



HINDOO TALES. 3 1 

below, and was taken before Yama, the judge 
of the dead, sitting on a great throne inlaid 
with jewels. 

" When the god saw me prostrate before 
him he called one of his attendants and said : 
' The time for this man's death is not arrived, 
and moreover, he was killed in defending a 
brahman ; therefore, after showing him the 
tortures of the wicked, let him return to his 
former body, in which he will in future lead 
a holy life/ 

" By him I w T as shown some sinners tied to 
red-hot iron bars, some thrown into great 
tubs of boiling oil, some beaten with clubs, 
some cut to pieces with swords ; after which 
my spirit re-entered the body, and I awoke 
to consciousness, lying alone, grievously 
wounded, in the forest. 

" In this state I was found by some of my 



32 HINDOO TALES. 

relations, who carried me home and took care 
of me till my wounds were healed. 

" Shortly after this I met with the brahman 
whom I had rescued, and he, grateful for the 
service which I had rendered him, read to me 
some religious books, and taught me the due 
performance of religious rites, especially the 
proper way of worshipping Siva. 

"When he considered me sufficiently in- 
structed, he quitted me, giving me his bless- 
ing, and receiving many thanks from me for 
his kindness. 

u Since then I have separated myself from 
all my former associates, and have lived a life 
of penance and meditation in this forest, en- 
deavouring to atone for my past sins, and 
especially seeking to propitiate the mighty 
deity who has the half-moon for his crest ; 
and now, having told you my history, I have 



HINDOO TALES. 33 

something to communicate which concerns 
you alone, and beg you to withdraw with me 
to hear it in private. 5 ' 

The two then went aside from the rest of 
the party, and the stranger said, " O prince, 
last night, during sleep, Siva appeared to me 
and addressed me thus : ' Matanga, I am 
pleased with your devotions ; they shall now 
have their rew T ard. North of this place, on 
the bank of the river which flows through the 
Dandaka forest, there is a remarkable rock, 
glittering with crystal and marked with the 
footsteps of Gauri. Go thither ; in the side of 
the rock you will see a yawning chasm, enter 
it and search till you find a copper plate with 
letters engraved on it ; follow the directions 
therein contained, and you will become King 
of Patala. That you may know this not to be 
a mere dream, a king's son will come to this 

D 



34 HINDOO TALES. 

place to-morrow, and he will be your com- 
panion in the journey/ 

" I have in consequence anxiously awaited 
your coming, and now entreat you to go with 
me to the place pointed out in the vision/' 

The curiosity of the prince was much 
excited by Matanga's story, and he readily 
promised to be his companion ; fearing, how- 
ever, that his friends would be opposed to his 
purpose, he did not on his return tell them 
anything of what he had heard, and at mid- 
night, when they were all fast asleep, he 
slipped away without disturbing them, and 
went to join Matanga, who was waiting for 
him at a place which had been agreed on, and 
the two walked on till they came to the rock 
indicated by Siva in the vision. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the party, uneasy at 
the disappearance of the prince, sought for 



HINDOO TALES. 



him all over the forest, and not finding him, 
determined to disperse, and continue the 
search in different countries ; and having 
arranged where to meet again, took leave of 
each other, and set out separately in different 
directions. 

Matanga, entirely believing the vision, and 
rendered still more confident by the com- 
panionship of the prince, fearlessly entered 
the cavern, found the copper plate and read 
the words engraved on it. Following the 
directions therein contained, they went on in 
darkness, groping their way through long 
passages, till at last they saw light before 
them and arrived at the subterranean country 
of Patala. 

After walking some distance further, they 
came to a small lake, surrounded by trees, 
with a city in view. 



36 HINDOO TALES. 



Here they stopped, and Matanga begging 
the prince to watch and guard against inter- 
ruption, collected a quantity of wood and 
lighted a large fire, into which he threw him- 
self with many charms and incantations, and 
presently came forth with a new body full 
of youth, beauty, and vigour, to the great 
astonishment of his companion. 

Hardly was this change effected, when they 
saw coming towards them from the city a 
procession, headed by a beautiful young lady 
splendidly dressed, and adorned with very 
costly jewels. Approaching Matanga, she 
made a low obeisance, and, without speaking, 
put a very precious gem into his hand. Being 
questioned by him, she answered, with tears 
in her eyes and in a soft musical voice, u O ex- 
cellent brahman, I am the daughter of a chief 
of Asuras, and my name is Kalindi ; my 



HINDOO TALES. 37 

father, the ruler of this subterranean world, 
was slain by Vishnu whom he had offended, 
and as he had no son, I was left his heir and 
successor, and suffered great distress and 
perplexity. 

u Some time ago I consulted a very holy 
Siddha, who had compassion on me, and told 
me, ' After a time, a certain mortal, having a 
heavenly body, will come down here from the 
upper world ; he will become your husband, 
and reign prosperously with you over all 
Patala/ 

"Trusting to this prophecy, I have waited 
impatiently, longing for your coming as a 
Chataka longs for rain, and am now come, 
with the consent of my ministers and people, 
to offer you my hand and kingdom/' 

Matanga, delighted at such a speedy ful- 
filment of the promise given in the vision, 



3§ HINDOO TALES. 

gladly accepted her offer, and with the appro- 
bation of his companion, was soon afterwards 
married to her amid great festivity. 

Rajavahana was treated with great respect 
and kindness by Matanga and his bride ; but 
after seeing all the wonders of the place, his 
curiosity was satisfied, and he was desirous 
of returning to the upper world. 

At his departure, a magic jewel was given 
him by Kalindi, which had the power of 
keeping off from the possessor of it hunger, 
thirst, fatigue, and other discomforts ; and 
Matanga accompanied him for a part of the 
way. Walking through darkness as before, 
the prince at last reached the mouth of the 
cavern and came forth into the open air. 

Having missed all his companions, he was 
uncertain where to direct his steps, and 
wandered on till he came to a large park, 



HIXDOO TALES. 39 

outside a city, where a great concourse of 
people was assembled, and he there sat down 
to rest. 

As he sat watching the various groups, he 
saw a young man enter the park, accom- 
panied by a lady and followed by a numerous 
retinue, and they both got into one of the 
swings placed there for the amusement of 
the festal crowd. 

Presently the eye of the new-comer rested 
on the prince ; with signs of great joy he 
jumped down, exclaiming, " O what happi- 
ness ! That is my lord Rajavahana," and, 
running to him, bowed down to his feet, 
saying " Great is my good fortune in meeting 
you again/' Rajavahana, affected by equal 
pleasure, w r armly embraced him, saying, " O 
my dear friend Somadatta, how happy I am 
to see you once more ! " 



40 HINDOO TALES. 

Then they sat down together under a shady- 
tree, and the prince inquired : a "What have 
you been doing all this time ? Where have 
you been ? Who is this lady ? And how did 
you get all these attendants?" Somadatta, 
thus questioned, began the recital of what he 
had done and seen. 



ADVENTURES OF SOMADATTA. 

1\ /T Y LORD, having great anxiety on your 
account, I wandered about in various 
countries. One day, when stooping to drink 
from a cool, clear stream, near a forest, I saw 
something bright under the water, and having 
taken it up, found it to be a ruby of very great 
value. 

Exhausted by fatigue and the scorching 
heat of the sun, I went into a small temple to 
rest, and saw there a brahman with a number 
of children, all looking wretched and half- 
starved. He seemed to regard me as a 
possible benefactor, and when questioned, 
readily told me his story ; how his wife had 



42 HINDOO TALES. 



died, leaving him with the care of all these 
children, and how, having no means of sub- 
sistence, he had wandered about in the hope 
of obtaining some employment ; but had got 
nothing better than the charge of this small 
temple, where the offerings were not sufficient 
to support him and his family. 

I asked him — " What is that camp which I 
see at some distance }" 

He answered — "The Lord of Lata, Matta- 
kala by name, hearing again and again of the 
great beauty of Vamalochana, daughter of 
Viraketu, sovereign of this country, asked her 
in marriage, and was refused. Being deter- 
mined to obtain her, he raised an army and 
besieged Patali, the capital city. Viraketu 
finding himself unable to resist the enemy, 
purchased peace by giving up his daughter, 
and Mattakala, thinking that the marriage 



HINDOO TALES. 



can be celebrated with greater magnifi- 
cence in his own country, has deferred 
it till his return. He is now on his way 
home with a small part of his arm}', the rest 
having been dismissed ; and he is staying at 
present near this forest to enjoy the pleasures 
of the chase. The princess is not with her 
intended husband, but under the care of 
Manapala, one of her father's officers, who is 
said to be very indignant at the surrender of 
the lady ; you may see his camp at no great 
distance from the other." 

While thanking the poor man for his infor- 
mation, a thought came into my mind — here is 
a very poor and deserving man, I will give him 
the jewel which I have found ; and I did so. 

He received the gift with profuse thanks, 
and set out immediately to try to dispose 
of it ; while I lay dow T n there to sleep. 



44 HINDOO TALES. 



After a time I was awakened by a great 
clamour, and saw the brahman coming to- 
wards me with his hands tied behind him, 
driven along, with blows of a whip and much 
abuse, by a party of soldiers. 

On seeing me, he called out, " There is the 
thief; that is the man who gave me the 
jewel/' 

Upon this the soldiers let him go, and, 
seizing me, refused to listen to my remon- 
strances, or to my account of the manner 
in which I had found the ruby. They dragged 
me along with them, and having put fetters 
on my feet, thrust me into a dungeon, saying, 
" There are your companions/' pointing at 
the same time to some other prisoners con- 
fined in that place. 

When I recovered my senses — for I was half 
stunned by the violence with which I had 



HINDOO TALES. 45 

been pushed in — I said to my fellow-prisoners, 
" Who are you, and what did the soldiers 
mean by calling you my companions ? for you 
are quite strangers to me." 

Those prisoners then told me the story of 
the King of Lata, which I had already heard 
from the brahman, and further said, u "We 
were sent by Manapala to assassinate that 
king, and broke into the place where we sup- 
posed him to be. Xot finding him, we were 
unwilling to come away empty-handed; we 
therefore carried off everything of value with- 
in our reach and made our escape to the 
forest. The next morning there was an 
active pursuit, our hiding-place was dis- 
covered, we were all captured, and the stolen 
property taken from us, with the exception of 
one ruby of great value, which had disap- 
peared. The king is exceedingly angry that 



46 HINDOO TALES. 

this cannot be found; our assertion that we 
have lost it is disbelieved, and we are 
threatened with torture to-morrow, unless 
we say where it is hidden." 

Having heard the robbers' story, I was 
convinced that the ruby in question was the 
one which I had found and given to the 
brahman, and I now understood why these 
men were supposed to be my accomplices. 

I told them who I was, how I had found 
the jewel, and had been unjustly arrested on 
account of it, and exhorted them to take 
courage and join me in an attempt to escape 
that night. To this they agreed, and at mid- 
night we managed to overpower the jailors 
and knock off our fetters ; and having armed 
ourselves with weapons which we found in the 
prison, we cut our way through the guards, 
and reached Manapala's camp in safety. 



HINDOO TALES. 47 

The next day, men sent by the King of 
Lata came to Manapala, and said — " Some 
robbers, who were caught after breaking into 
the king's dwelling, have made their escape, 
and are known to have come here ; give 
them up immediately, or it will be the worse 
for you." 

Manapala, who only wanted an excuse for 
a quarrel, having heard this insulting mes- 
sage, his eyes red with anger, answered, — 
" "Who is the King of Lata, that I should bow 
down to him ? "What have I to do with that 
low fellow ? Begone !" 

When the men returned to their master 
and told him the reception they had met 
with, he was in a furious rage, and, disregard- 
ing the smallness of the force which was with 
him, marched out at once to attack Mana- 
pala, who was quite prepared to meet him. 



48 HINDOO TALES. 



When I entered the camp, after my escape, 
Manapala, who received from his servants 
an exaggerated account of my coolness, dex- 
terity, and courage, had treated me with 
great honour, and now I offered my services 
in the approaching fight. They were gladly 
accepted, and I was furnished with an ex- 
cellent chariot and horses guided by a 
skilful charioteer, a strong coat of mail, a 
bow and two quivers full of arrows, as well 
as with other weapons. 

Thus equipped, I w r ent forth to meet the 
enemy, and seeking out the leader, soon 
found myself near him. First confusing him 
with arrows poured upon him in rapid suc- 
cession, I brought my chariot close to his, 
and suddenly springing into it, cut off his 
head at a blow. 

Seeing the king fall, his soldiers were 



HINDOO TALES. 49 

discouraged, and fled ; the camp was taken, 
much booty gained, and the princess led back 
to her father. He having received an account 
of the victory, and of my share in it, through 
a messenger sent from Manapala, came forth 
to meet us when we entered the city, and 
received me with great honour. After a time, 
as I continued daily to increase in favour with 
him, he bestowed on me the hand of his 
daughter, and declared me his successor. 

Being thus arrived at the height of pros- 
perity and happiness, I had but one cause of 
sorrow — my absence from you. I am on my 
way to Mahakala, to worship Siva there. I 
have stopped at this place, hoping, at a 
festival so much frequented, I might at least 
hear some tidings of you, and now the god 
has favoured his worshipper, and through this 
happy meeting all my wishes are fulfilled. 

E 



50 HINDOO TALES. 

Rajavahana, who delighted in valour, 
having heard Somadatta's story, while ex- 
pressing his sorrow for his undeserved 
imprisonment, congratulated him on the 
happy result of it, and told him his own 
adventures. 

He had scarcely finished the relation of 
them when a third person came up, and the 
prince, warmly greeting him, exclaimed, " O, 
Somadatta, here is Pushpodbhava." Then 
there were mutual embracings and rejoicings, 
after which they all three sat down again, 
and Rajavahana said : " Somadatta has told 
me his adventures, but I know nothing of the 
rest of my friends. What did you do when 
you missed me that morning in the forest ?" 
Then Pushbodbhava respectfully spoke as 
follows : — 



ADVENTURES OF PUSHBODBHAVA. 

TV /T Y LORD, your friends being convinced 
that you had gone on some expedition 
with the brahman, and knowing nothing of the 
direction which you had taken, were greatly 
perplexed. At last we agreed to separate, 
each going a different way, and I, like the 
rest, set out by myself. One day, being 
unable to bear the heat of the noonday sun, I 
sat down in the shade of a tree at the bottom 
of a mountain. Happening to look up, I saw 
a man falling from the rock above, and he 
came to the ground very near me. 

On going up to him, I found that he was 
still alive, and having revived him by throw T - 



52 HINDOO TALES. 

ing cold water over him, and by other means, 
I found that he had no bone broken, and 
did not appear to have received any serious 
injury. 

When he was sufficiently recovered, I 
asked him who he was and how he came 
to fall from the precipice. With tears in his 
eyes, and a feeble voice, he said : " My name 
is Ratnodbhava ; I am the son of a minister 
of the King of Magadha ; travelling about 
as a merchant, I came, many years ago, to 
the island of Kalayavana. There I married 
a merchant's daughter, and going with her 
by sea to visit my relations, w r as overtaken 
by a violent storm, during which the ship 
sank, and I was the only person saved. 

" After reaching the shore, I wandered 
about for some time in a strange country, 
and, unable to bear my misery, was about 



HINDOO TALES. 53 

to put an end to my life, when I was stopped 
by a Siddha, who assured me that after 
sixteen years I should find my wife. Trust- 
ing to this promise, I have endured life 
through all these years ; but the appointed 
time having passed without any sign of the 
fulfilment of the prophecy, I could hold out 
no longer, and threw myself from the top of 
this precipice/' 

At that moment the voice of a woman in 
distress was heard not far off, and saying to 
him whom I recognised as my father, " Take 
courage, I have good news for you ; only 
wait a moment," I ran off in the direction 
of the place whence the voice had pro- 
ceeded, and soon came in sight of a large 
fire and two women near it, the one trying 
to throw herself into the flames, the other 
struggling to prevent her. Going to the 



54 HINDOO TALES. 



help of the latter, I soon got the lady away, 
and brought her and her companion to the 
place where my father was lying. I then 
said to the old woman, "Pray tell me what 
all this means ? How came you to be in 
such a place, and why did the lady wish to 
destroy herself ?' 

With a voice broken by sobs, she answered 
me : " This lady, whose name is Suvritta, is 
the daughter of a merchant in the island of 
Kalayavana, and the wife of Ratnodbhava. 
While crossing the sea with her husband, 
there was a great storm, the ship sank, and 
this lady and I, her nurse, were the only 
persons saved. A few days afterwards she 
gave birth to a son in the forest ; but through 
my ill-fortune the child was lost, having been 
seized by a wild elephant. Afterwards we 
two wandered about in great misery, and she 



HINDOO TALES. 55 

would have put an end to her life had we not 
met with a holy man, who comforted her with 
the assurance that after sixteen years she 
would be reunited with her husband and son. 
Relying on this prophecy, she consented to 
wait, and we have spent all these 3-ears 
living near his hermitage ; but the sixteen 
years were ended some time ago, and having 
lost all hope, she was about to end her 
wretched life by throwing herself into a fire 
which she had made, when you so oppor- 
tunely came to my assistance/' 

Hearing this story, my father was unable 
to speak from astonishment. I made him 
known to my mother, and myself to both 
of them, to their very great joy; and my 
mother seemed as if she would never weary 
of kissing and embracing me. 

After a time, when we were all more com- 



56 HINDOO TALES. 

posed, my father began to inquire about the 
king and his own relations, for during all 
these years he had heard nothing of them. 
I told him everything — how the king had 
been defeated, and had been living in the 
forest ; your birth, and the wonderful pre- 
servation of myself and my companions ; 
how we had all set out together ; how we had 
lost you, and how I was now searching for 
you. 

As soon as my father was able to walk, I 
placed him and my mother under the care of 
a certain muni, not very far off, and set out 
again on my travels. Just at this time I had 
heard that under the ruins of an ancient city, 
overgrown by trees, a great treasure was 
supposed to be concealed ; and as I possessed 
a magic ointment which, when applied to the 
eyes, enabled me to see through the ground, 



HINDOO TALES. 57 

I determined to try to dig it up. I therefore 
got together some strong young men with 
the promise of good pay, went to the place, 
and succeeded in finding a large quantity of 
gold and silver coin. "While I was thus 
engaged, a caravan of merchants came to 
that neighbourhood, and halted there for a 
day or two. Taking advantage of this oppor- 
tunity, I purchased of them sacks for holding 
the coin, and some strong oxen to carry them. 
I then dismissed my men, well satisfied with 
their share, and joined the caravan, where I 
soon made friends with the leader, the son of 
a merchant at Oujein, to which place he was 
then going. 

On our arrival at the city, he introduced me 
to his father, Bandhupala, by whose means I 
obtained permission from the King of Malwa 
to reside there. 



58 HINDOO TALES. 

When I had taken a house, safely de- 
posited the money, and established my parents 
in it, I was anxious to set out again in search 
of you. 

Bandhupala, seeing this, said to me : " You 
have already spent much time in searching 
for your friend, and may spend much more in 
the same manner to no purpose, if you have 
no clue to guide you. Now I am skilled in 
augury and the language of birds ; it is 
probable that I may obtain some indications 
for you ; wait, therefore, patiently for the 
present. Meanwhile, my house is always 
open to you/' 

To this I agreed, and having great pleasure 
in his society, was much with him, and soon 
had other attractions there, for I fell in love 
with his beautiful daughter, Balachandrika. 

Though I had not declared my passion, I 



HINDOO TALES. 59 

was convinced, from her looks and from many- 
things which I observed, that she was equally 
in love with me, and therefore anxiously- 
sought an opportunity of speaking to her in 
private. 

One day, Bandhupala, wishing to obtain 
information about you by listening to the 
voices of birds, went with me into a park near 
the city, and while he waited under the trees, 
hearing the birds, I walked on, and had the 
good fortune to see my beloved alone, in 
another part of the park. 

Although she was evidently pleased at 
seeing me, and did not reject my suit, I 
observed that she was distressed and dis- 
pirited, and inquired the cause. 

She told me, " Some time ago the old king 
abdicated in favour of his son Darpasara, w T ho 
is now 7 gone on a pilgrimage to the Himalaya 



6o HINDOO TALES, 



Mountains, having first appointed as joint 
regents the two sons of his father's sister, 
Charmavarma and Daruvarma. 

" The former of these two alone has the 
management of affairs ; for the latter, given 
up to evil deeds, makes use of his power only 
for the indulgence of his licentious passions. 

"He has seen me during my attendance on 
the Princess Avantisundari, has endeavoured 
to seduce me, and I am in constant fear of 
his violence, for he hesitates at nothing in the 
indulgence of his wicked desires/' 

She told me this reluctantly, and with much 
agitation ; but I comforted her with the 
assurance of my love, and the promise of 
finding some means to free her from his 
annoyance. 

After some reflection, I said to her, "This 
is the plan which I propose. Your friends 



HINDOO TALES. 6 1 

must give out in public that a certain Siddha 
has declared — i Balachandrika is guarded by 
a demon, who will allow no man to have 
intercourse with her without his consent. 
Whoever, therefore, wishes to marry her, 
must first pass one night in company with her 
and one female friend, and if he comes out 
uninjured, or is able to overcome the demon, 
he may then safely marry her/ 

" If Daruvarma, on hearing this, shall be 
alarmed, and abstain from further annoyance, 
so much the better ; if, on the other hand, he 
persists in his wicked purpose, do you appear 
to consent, and say, 'If you think you can 
overcome the demon, I am willing to meet 
you, but it must be openly, in your own 
house ; and then, whatever happens, no 
blame can fall on my family/ 

" To this proposal he will be sure to agree, 



62 HINDOO TALES. 

and you may go to his house without fear, for 
I will accompany you, disguised as a woman, 
and will manage to kill that wretch, without 
danger to you or myself, after which there 
will be no obstacle to our marriage ; for, 
when I ask your father, he will certainly 
consent, seeing the great love between us, 
for he has shown great regard for me, and 
knows my property and connections. But 
you must tell him now what has been 
arranged between us, that he may be induced 
to spread abroad the report about the demon, 
and to consent to your going to Daruvarma's 
house/' 

Balachandrika was delighted with my plan, 
and promised to do her best to carry it out. 
She had full confidence in my courage and 
skill, and felt sure that I should succeed in 
what I had undertaken. Then, reluctantly 



HINDOO TALES. 6$ 



leaving me, and looking back again and 
again, she walked slowly home. 

After quitting her I returned to her father, 
who was well satisfied with the result of his 
observations, and told me that he had ascer- 
tained that after thirty days I should meet 
you ; and we walked together to his house, 
talking over the matter. 

After a few days, Balachandrika informed 
me that Daruvarma, undeterred by the report 
which was now spread about the city, that 
she was haunted by a demon, had continued 
his importunities, and that she had consented 
to go to his house that evening. 

Meanwhile I had secretly made my pre- 
parations, and concealed in a lonely place 
everything required for my disguise. At the 
proper time, when it was quite dark, I went 
there, changed my dress, met the lady, and 



64 HINDOO TALES. 



accompanied her to the house of the prince, 
who received us with great respect ; and not 
having the slightest suspicion of my being 
other than what I seemed to be, sent away 
all his attendants, and conducted us to a 
room in a small detached building. There he 
seated her on a beautiful soft couch, inlaid 
with jewels, and expressing his great delight 
at seeing her, brought forth and offered to us 
both very handsome presents of dresses, 
ornaments, perfumes, &c. After some con- 
versation — as if no longer able to restrain 
himself — he sat down beside her, and, regard- 
less of my presence, threw his arms round 
her, and kissed her again and again. 

This was more than I could bear ; suddenly 
seizing him by the tnroat, I threw him on the 
ground, and despatched him with blows of 
hand, foot, and knee, before he could call out 
or give an alarm. 



HINDOO TALES. 65 



Then we both screamed out loudly, and I 
rushed forth, as if in a great fright, calling- 
out, " Help ! help ! the horrible demon is 
killing the prince ! " 

Hearing this, and seeing my apparent 
agitation, the attendants and guards hastened 
in great confusion to the room, where they 
found the prince dead, and the lady so 
agitated that she was unable to give an 
account of what had happened ; the demon 
had of course disappeared. 

Some police were in attendance, suspicious 
of fraud, but even they did not imagine two 
women to be capable of such an act of 
violence, and the general opinion was that 
the story of the demon was founded on truth, 
and that the prince well deserved the fate he 
had met w T ith. Balachandrika was therefore 
suffered to leave : I had already escaped in 

F 



66 HINDOO TALES. 

the first alarm and confusion, had changed 
my dress, and reached home in safety. 

No further inquiry was made, and no 
suspicion fell on me ; I duly married my 
beloved, and as no harm happened to me, 
the demon was supposed to have been pro- 
pitiated. 

The day indicated by my wife's father 
having arrived, I came here, fully expect- 
ing to see you, and now my happiness is 
complete. 

When Rajavahana had heard this story, he 
again related his own adventures ; after which 
he took leave of Somadatta, saying, " Come 
to me as soon as possible, when you have 
paid your devotions at Mahakala, and have 
taken your wife and her attendants home ;■' 
and he then accompanied Pushpodbhava into 
the city of Avanti. 



HINDOO TALES. 67 

There he was hospitably received in the 
house of his friend, who introduced him by 
his real name to Bandhupala, but gave out 
in the city that he was a young brahman, 
worthy of all honour for his learning and 
ability ; and the prince remained for some 
time in that city, treated with great respect 
and consideration by all who became ac- 
quainted with him. 



MARRIAGE OF AVANTISUNDARL 

TOURING the stay of Rajavahana at 
Avanti, the season of spring arrived, 
when the great festival of Kama is celebrated. 
The trees, breaking into flower, were filled 
with the song of birds and the hum of bees, 
and their branches were waved by the soft 
south wind, blowing, loaded with perfume, 
from the sandal groves of Malaya. The lakes 
and pools were thickly covered with lotus 
blossoms, among which innumerable water- 
birds were sporting, and the feelings of all 
were influenced by the charms of the season, 
and prepared for the worship of the god of 
love. 



HINDOO TALES. 69 

On the day of the festival, the parks and 
gardens were crowded with people, some en- 
gaged in various sports, some walking about or 
sitting under the trees, looking at the players. 

Among them was the Princess Avantisun- 
dari, who was sitting on a sandy spot, under 
a large tree, attended by her women, especially 
by her dear friend Balachandrika, and making 
offerings to the god of various perfumes and 
flowers. 

The prince also walked in the park with his 
friend Pushpodbhava ; and wishing to see the 
princess, of whose grace and beauty he had 
already heard, contrived to approach ; «and 
being encouraged by Balachandrika with a 
gesture of the hand, came and stood very near 
her. 

Then, indeed, having an opportunity of ob- 
serving her, he was struck by her exceeding 



70 HINDOO TALES. 

beauty. She seemed to him as if formed by 
the god of love with everything most beautiful 
in the world ; and, as he gazed, he felt more 
and more entranced, till almost unconsciously 
he was deeply in love. 

She, indeed, seeing him beautiful as Kama 
himself, was almost equally affected, and, per- 
vaded by strong feeling, trembled like the 
branch of a creeping plant agitated by a gentle 
wind. 

Then he thought, " Never have I seen any- 
thing so lovely. She must have been formed 
by some singular accident, for there is no one 
like her in the world." 

She, indeed, ashamed to look openly at 
him, and half concealing herself among her 
attendants, looked at him stealthily from time 
to time, and while he had all his thoughts fixed 
on her, was saying to herself, " Who can he be ? 



HINDOO TALES. '] I 



Where does he come from ? Happy the maidens 
whose eyes are delighted with such beauty ! 
happy the mother w4io has such a son ! What 
can I do ? how can I find out who he is I" 

Meanwhile Balachandrika, quick in dis- 
crimination, perceived the impression they 
had made on each other ; and not thinking it 
desirable to declare his name and rank before 
the other attendants, or in such a public place, 
introduced him to the princess, saying, " This 
is a very learned and clever young brahman, 
a friend of my husband, worthy -of your notice. 
Allow me to recommend him to your favour- 
able consideration. 5 ' 

The princess, delighted at heart, but con- 
cealing her feelings, motioned to the prince to 
sit down near her, and gave him betel, flowers, 
perfumes, &c, through one of her attendants. 

Then Rajavahana, more deeply in love 



HINDOO TALES. 



even than the princess, thought to himself, 
" There surely must be some reason for this 
very sudden attraction which I feel towards 
her. She must have been my beloved wife in 
a former existence. Perhaps a curse w T as laid 
upon us ; and now that is removed. If so, the 
recognition ought to be mutual ; at all events 
I will try what I can do to produce the same 
feeling in her which exists in my mind." 

While he was considering how this might be 
accomplished, a swan approached the princess, 
as if expecting to be fed or caressed ; and in 
sport, she desired Balachandrika to catch it. 

Inspired by this circumstance with a happy 
thought, Rajavahana said to the princess, 
u Will you allow me to tell you a short story ? 
There was formerly a king called Samba. 
When walking one day together with his be- 
loved wife at the side of a small lake in the 



HINDOO TALES. 73 

pleasure-grounds, he saw a swan asleep, just 
under the bank. Having caught it, he tied its 
legs together, put it down again on the ground, 
and saying to his wife, ' This bird sits as quiet 
as a muni ; let him go where he likes/ amused 
himself with laughing at its awkward attempts 
to walk. Then the swan suddenly spoke : ' O 
king, though in the form of a swan, I am a 
devout brahman ; and since you have thus, 
without cause, ill-treated me while sitting quiet 
here, engaged in meditation, I lay my curse 
upon you, and you shall endure the pain of 
separation from your beloved wife/ 

" Hearing this, the king, alarmed and dis- 
tressed, bowed respectfully to the ground, and 
said, ' O mighty sage, forgive an act done 
through ignorance/ 

"Then that holy person, having his anger 
appeased, answered, 'My words cannot be 



74 HINDOO TALES. 



made of no effect. I will, however, so far 
modify the curse that it will not take place 
during your present existence ; but in a future 
birth, when you are united to the same lady in 
another body, you must endure the misery of 
separation from her for two months, though 
you will afterwards enjoy very great happiness 
with her ; and I will also confer on you both 
the power of recognising each other in your 
next existence,' — I beg of you therefore not to 
tie this bird which you were washing to catch. " 
The princess, hearing this story, was quite 
ready to believe it ; and from her own feelings 
was convinced that it really referred to a pre- 
vious existence of herself, now brought to her 
recollection ; and that the love which she felt 
springing up in her heart was directed towards 
one who had formerly been her husband. 
With a sweet smile, she answered : " Doubtless 



HINDOO TALES. 



Samba tied the bird in that way on purpose to 
obtain the power of recognition in another 
birth ; and it was very cleverly managed by 
him." 

From that moment they seemed perfectly to 
understand each other, and sat without speak- 
ing, their hearts full of happiness. 

Presently the mother of the princess — the 
queen of the ex-king Manasara, who had also 
come with her attendants into the park, joined 
her daughter ; and Balachandrika having seen 
her approaching, made a sign to the prince, 
upon which he and his friend slipped on one 
side, and hid themselves behind some leafy 
bushes. 

After the queen had stayed a short time 
talking to her daughter and looking at the 
games, she set out to return, and the princess 
accompanied her. 



j6 HINDOO TALES. 



Before going, she turned round, as if ad- 
dressing the swan, but intending the speech 
for the prince, who was anxiously watching 
her from his hiding-place, " Though you came 
near me so lovingly just now, I may not stay 
longer with you : I must leave you and follow 
my mother : do not forget me or imagine 
that I neglect you, for I am still fond of you." 

With these words she walked slowly away, 
looking with longing eyes in the direction of 
her lover. 

On their return to the palace, the princess 
heard from Balachandrika a full account of 
Rajavahana and his adventures, through which 
she was even more in love than before ; and 
having no opportunity of seeing him again, 
became listless and indifferent to her usual 
occupations, lost her appetite, wasted away, 
and at last lay on her bed, burning with fever. 



HINDOO TALES. 77 

In vain did her devoted attendants use all 
their efforts to diminish the heat by means of 
cold water, fanning, and other remedies ; and 
she, seeing their distress, said to her faithful 
Balachandrika : " Ah, dear friend, all you can 
do is to no purpose ; they call Kama the god 
with five arrows ; but surely this is a wrong 
name, for I feel as if pierced by him with 
hundreds of arrows. They call the wind from 
Malaya cooling ; but to me it only increases 
the fever, as if blowing up the fire which con- 
sumes me : my own necklace, the contact of 
which was formerly agreeable, now feels as if 
smeared with the poison of serpents. Give up 
y^ur^xertions ; the prince is the only physician 
who can cure me ; and how T can he come to me 
here?" 

Then Balachandrika thought to herself: 
" Something must be done, and that without 



78 HINDOO TALES. 

delay, or this violent passion of love will surely 
cause her death. I will at least see the prince, 
and try if it is possible to bring about a 
meeting." 

Having thus resolved, she begged the prin- 
cess to write a few lines to her lover; and 
committing her to the care of the other at- 
tendants, she went to the house of her husband. 
There she found Rajavahana almost in the 
same state as the princess, burning with fever, 
throwing himself about restlessly on his couch, 
and bemoaning his hard fate to his friend. 

On seeing Balachandrika, he started up, 
saying, " Oh, how welcome is the sight of you ! 
I am sure you must be the bearer of good news. 
Sit down here and tell me about my darling." 

She answered : " The princess is suffering 
like yourself, longing to see you ; and has now 
sent me with this letter." 



HINDOO TALES 



Eagerly opening it, he read — 

" Beloved — Having seen your beauty, deli- 
cate as a flower, faultless, unrivalled in the 
world, my heart is full of longing. Do you 
likewise make your heart soft." 

Having read this, he said : u Your coming 
here is refreshing to me as water to a 
withered plant ; you are the wife of my very 
dear friend, Pushpodbhava, and I know how 
attached you are to my darling, therefore 
I can speak freely to you. Tell her that when 
she left the grove that day she carried off my 
heart with her, and that I long to see her 
even more than she longs for me ; tell her 
only not to despond ; the entrance to her 
apartments is indeed difficult, but I will con- 
trive to see her by some means or other. 
Come back soon, and, having thought over the 
matter, I will tell you what is to be done." 



80 HINDOO TALES. 

With this message, Balachandrika went to 
rejoice her friend ; and the prince, though 
much comforted, could not remain quiet, but 
walked to the park, to have the pleasure of 
seeing at least the place where he had first 
met his charmer. There he stayed a long 
time together with his friend, looking at her 
footsteps in the sand, the withered flowers 
which she had gathered and thrown down, 
the place where she had sat, and the shrubs 
from which he had watched her, and listen- 
ing to the murmur of the wind among the 
leaves, the hum of the bees and the song of 
the birds. Presently, they saw approaching 
them a brahman, splendidly dressed, fol- 
lowed by a servant. He, coming up to the 
prince, saluted him ; and the prince, returning 
the salute, asked who he was. He answered : 
" My name is Vidyeswara. I am a famous 



HINDOO TALES. 8l 

conjurer, and travel about exhibiting my skill 
for the amusement of kings and nobles. I 
have now come to Oujein, to show off my 
skill before the king." Then, with a knowing- 
smile, he added, " But what makes )-ou look 
so pale ?" 

Pushpodbhava, thinking to himself this is 
just the man to help us, answered, " There 
is something in your appearance which in- 
duces me to look on you as a friend, and 
you know how sometimes intimate friendship 
arises from a very short acquaintance ; I will 
therefore tell you why my friend is thus sad. 
Not long ago, he, the son of a king, met the 
Princess Avantisundari on this very spot, 
and they fell in love with each other. From the 
impossibility of meeting, both are suffering, 
and the prince is brought into this condition 
which 3'ou see." 

G 



82 HINDOO TALES. 



Vidyeswara, in reply, looking at the prince, 
said, with a smile, "To such as you, with me 
for an ally, nothing is impossible. I will, 
through my. skill, contrive that you shall 
marry the princess in the presence of her 
father and his court ; but you must follow 
my directions exactly, and she must be in- 
formed of her part in the affair through some 
trusty female friend/' 

Then, having given the necessary direc- 
tions, the conjurer went his way. Rajava- 
hana also returned to the house, and when 
he had given Balachandrika, who came again 
in the evening, the directions received from 
the conjurer, and a loving message of en- 
couragement for the princess, he anxiously 
awaited the morrow, unable to sleep from the 
thought of the expected happiness, and fluc- 
tuating between alternate hopes and fears. 



HINDOO TALES. S$ 



In the morning, Vidyeswara, having col- 
lected a large troop of followers, went to 
the palace and announced himself to the 
doorkeeper, saying, " Tell the king the great 
conjurer is arrived." Manasara, who had 
heard of his great skill, and was desirous of 
seeing it, ordered him to be immediately 
admitted, and, after the usual salutations, 
the performance began. 

First, while the band was playing, pea- 
cocks' tails were waving, and singers imi- 
tating the plaintive notes of birds, to excite 
the feelings and distract the attention of 
the hearers, the conjurer turned round vio- 
lently several times, with his eyes half- 
closed, and caused great hooded serpents to 
appear and vultures to come down from the 
sky to seize them. 

After this, he represented the scene of Vishnu 



84 HINDOO TALES. 

killing Hiranyakasipu, chief of the Asuras, 
to the great astonishment of the spectators ; 
then, turning to the king, he said, "It is 
desirable that the performance should end 
with something auspicious ; I propose, there- 
fore, to represent a royal marriage, and one 
of my people will act as your daughter, 
another as a prince, endowed with all good 
qualities. But first I must apply to your 
eyes this ointment, which will give you 
preternatural clearness of vision/' To all 
this the king consented. 

Meanwhile, the princess had contrived to 
slip out unobserved, and stood among the 
conjurer's people. Rajavahana also stood 
ready, and the performance began. Thus, 
under the disguise of a piece of acting, the 
conjurer, being a brahman, was able to 
complete the marriage with all proper rites 



HINDOO TALES. 8^ 



3 



and ceremonies without any suspicion on 
the part of the king that it was his own 
daughter whom he saw before him ; and the 
others, also unsuspecting, only admired the 
skill of the conjurer in making the actress 
so like the lady whom she represented. 
When the performance was ended, the con- 
jurer, having been liberally rewarded by the 
king, dismissed his hired attendants and 
departed. 

In the confusion and excitement caused 
by the conjurer's performance, Rajavahana 
and the princess slipped unnoticed into her 
apartments, where he was safe, for the 
present at least, her attendants being all 
devoted to her, and careful to keep the 
secret. 

He was thus able to enjoy the society of 
his bride without interruption ; to give her 



86 HINDOO TALES. 



a full account of his life and adventures, and 
to teach her many things of which she was 
ignorant ; so that she became more and more 
attached to him, and admired his knowledge 
and eloquence as much as she had before 
admired his beauty. 



FURTHER ADVENTURES OF 
RAJAVAHANA. 

'HP'HUS the princess, listening with delight 
and astonishment to the sweet and 
eloquent words of her husband, and he never 
tired of contemplating her beauty and enjoy- 
ing her caresses, lived for some time in the 
greatest happiness, without care or anxiet)' 
for the future. 

One night, when both were sleeping, the 
prince had a remarkable dream. He seemed 
to see an old swan, whose legs were tied 
together with lotus fibre, approach the bed- 
side ; at that moment he awoke with a feeling 
of pressure on his feet, and found himself 



88 HINDOO TALES. 

bound with a slender silver chain, bright as 
the rays of the moon. The princess awoke 
at the same time, and seeing her husband 
thus fettered, screamed out loudly in her 
fright. The attendants in the adjoining 
apartments, hearing the scream, thought 
something dreadful must have happened. 
They rushed into the room, added their cries 
to hers, and forgetting all their former pre- 
cautions, left the doors open, so that the 
guards outside, hearing the clamour, entered 
and saw the prince. 

When about to seize him, they were awed 
by his dignity, and contented themselves with 
giving information to the regent, Chanda- 
varma, who, on receiving it, came immediately 
to the place. 

Looking at the prince with eyes burning 
with the fire of anger, he began to recollect 



HINDOO TALES. 89 

him, and said, " So ! this is that conceited 
brahman who has been deceiving the people ; 
making them believe that he is wonderfully 
clever ; the friend of that fellow the husband 
of the wicked Balachandrika, the cause of my 
brother's death. How is it possible that the 
princess should have fallen in love with such 
a paltry wretch, overlooking a man like me ? 
She is a disgrace to her family, and shall soon 
see her husband impaled on a stake." 

Then, with his forehead disfigured by a fear- 
ful frown, he continued to abuse the prince ; 
and having tied his hands behind him, 
dragged him from the room. 

Rajavahana, naturally brave, and encou- 
raged by belief in that former existence the 
remembrance of which had so wonderfully 
arisen in his mind, bore all the insults w T ith 
firmness, and saying to the princess, " Re- 



90 HINDOO TALES. 

member that speech of the swan, have pa- 
tience for two months, and all will be well," 
submitted quietly to the imprisonment. 

When the ex-king and queen were informed 
of what had happened, they were greatly dis- 
tressed on their daughter's account, and ex- 
erted themselves to save the life of their son- 
in-law ; but the regent, in whom all authority 
was vested, resisted their entreaties ; and only 
on condition of their resigning some of the few 
privileges which still remained to them did he 
consent to defer the execution till he had com- 
municated with Darpasara, and learned his 
pleasure on the subject. He confiscated the 
property of Pushpodbhava, and threw him and 
his family into prison; and being about to 
march against the King of Anga, and unwil- 
ling to leave the prince behind, lest he should 
be liberated by the old king, he caused a 



HINDOO TALES. 91 

wooden cage to be made, in which his prisoner 
was shut up and carried with the army. 

Treated thus like some wild beast, roughly 
shaken and neglected, Rajavahana would have 
suffered greatly had he not been protected by 
the magic jewel given to him in Patala, and 
which he had contrived to conceal in his 
hair. 

Chandavarma had some time before this 
asked in marriage Ambalika, the daughter of 
Sinhavarma, King of Anga, and, indignant at 
a refusal, was now marching against him, to 
take vengeance for the insult, and get pos- 
session of the princess. Advancing therefore 
with a large army, he prepared to besiege 
Champa, the capital city. 

Sinhavarma, being of a very impatient and 
impetuous disposition, w r ould not wait for the 
arrival of the allies who had been summoned 



92 HINDOO TALES. 

to his assistance, and were then on the march ; 
but throwing open the gates, went forth to 
meet the enemy. 

A terrible battle ensued, in which both kings 
performed prodigies of valour. At last Sin- 
havarma w T as taken prisoner, and his army 
so completely defeated, that the conqueror 
entered and took possession of the city with- 
out opposition. 

Chandavarma, having now the princess in 
his power, determined to make her his wife at 
once : he therefore treated her father with more 
consideration than he would otherwise have 
done, though he put him in confinement, and 
caused it to be proclaimed throughout the city 
that the wedding would be celebrated with 
much splendour the next morning. 

Just then a messenger arrived from Kailasa, 
bringing a letter from Darpasara, in which he 



HINDOO TALES. 93 

had written, " Ofool ! should there be any pity 
for the violator of the harem ? If the old king, 
my father, now in his dotage, was foclish 
enough to favour the criminal for the sake of 
his worthless daughter, you had no need of his 
permission, and ought not to have been in- 
fluenced by him. Let that vile seducer be 
immediately put to death by torture, and his 
paramour be shut up in prison till I come." 

Chandavarma, who had intended to march 
against the allies advancing for the assistance 
of his captive, on receiving these commands, 
gave orders to his attendants, saying, " To- 
morrow morning take that vile wretch from 
his cage, and set him at the palace gate. Have 
ready, also, a fierce elephant, suitably equipped, 
which I shall mount immediately after the 
wedding, to overtake my army in march 
against the enemy ; and as 1 set out, I will 



94 HINDOO TALES. 



make the elephant trample the life out of that 
criminal/' 

Accordingly, the next morning, the prince 
was brought by the guards to the gate 
of the palace, and the elephant placed near 
him. 

While he stood there, calmly awaiting death, 
which now seemed inevitable, he suddenly felt 
his feet free, and a beautiful lady appeared 
before him. 

She humbly bowing down said : " Let my 
lord pardon his servant for the injury which 
she has unconsciously caused. I am an Ap- 
saras, born from the rays of the moon. One 
day, as I was flying through the air, wearing 
a white dress, a swan, mistaking me for a 
lotus flower, attacked me. While struggling 
to keep off the bird, the string of my neck- 
lace broke, and the pearls fell on the grey 



HINDOO TALES. 95 

head of a very holy rishi, bathing in the 
clearwater of a Himalayan lake. 

" In his anger, he cursed me, saying : ' O 
wicked one, for this offence you are condemned 
to be changed into a piece of unconscious 
metal/ 

" When, however, I entreated forgiveness, 
he was so far appeased, that he modified the 
curse, and granted that I should still retain 
consciousness, and remain as a fetter on 
your feet for two months only. 

"The change took place immediately, and 
I fell to the ground, turned into a silver 
chain. 

"About this time, Yirasekhara, a Vidyad- 
hara, partly of human descent, had become 
acquainted with Darpasara, then performing 
penance on the great mountain ; and thinking 
he might get assistance from him in a feud in 



96 HINDOO TALES. 

which he was involved, had made an alliance 
with him, and engaged to marry his sister, 
the Princess Avantisundari. 

" Being desirous of visiting his intended 
bride, he flew through the air to Avanti. On 
his way he saw the silver fetter, descended to 
the ground, picked it up, and continued his 
flight. 

" Having made himself invisible, he entered 
without difficulty the apartment of the princess, 
and was astonished and enraged on finding 
her lying in your arms. His first impulse was 
to kill you ; but some irresistible influence 
restrained him, so that he contented himself 
with putting the silver fetter on your feet, and 
departed without otherwise disturbing you. 

" You have, in consequence, suffered all this 
misery. Now my transformation is ended, 
and you are so far free ; tell me what I can do 



HINDOO TALES. 97 

for you in atonement for the suffering which I 
have caused r" 

The prince, not thinking of himself, said 
only, "Go at once to her who is dearer to 
me than life, and comfort her with news 
of me." 

At that moment a great clamour was heard, 
and some persons, rushing from the interior of 
the palace, called out, loudly, " Help ! help ! 
Chandavarma is murdered ! killed by an as- 
sassin, who stabbed him as he was about to 
take the hand of the princess ; and that man is 
now moving about the palace, cutting down 
all who attempt to seize him." 

Rajavahana, when he heard this, without 
losing a moment, and before the g'uards had 
perceived his feet to be unfettered, with a 
sudden spring leapt on the elephant intended 
for his destruction ; and having thrust off the 

H 



98 HINDOO TALES. 



driver, urged the beast at a rapid pace, push- 
ing aside the crowd right and left as he went. 

Having got into the courtyard, he shouted 
with a loud voice, " Who is the brave man 
that has done this great deed, hardly to be 
accomplished by a mere mortal ? Let him 
come forth and join me ; we two united are 
a match for a whole army." 

The slayer of Chandavarma hearing this, 
came out of the palace, and quickly mounting 
the elephant, who held down his trunk to 
receive him, placed himself behind the prince. 

Great was their mutual astonishment and 
joy when they recognised each other, the 
prince exclaiming, " Is it possible ? Is it 
really you, my dear friend Apaharavarma, 
who have done this deed }" and the other 
saying, " Do I indeed see my Lord Rajava- 
hana?" 



HINDOO TALES. 99 

Having thus recognised and embraced each 
other, they turned the elephant round, and 
passing through the crowd in the courtyard, 
went into the main street, now thronged by 
soldiers. Through these they forced their 
way, employing with good effect the weapons 
placed on the elephant for the use of Chanda- 
varma. 

Before, however, they had gone far, they 
heard the noise of battle at a distance, and 
saw the soldiers in front of them scattered in 
all directions. 

Soon they saw coming towards them a 
very well-dressed, handsome man, riding on 
a swift elephant. On reaching them, he 
made obeisance to the prince, saying, " I am 
sure this is my Lord Rajavahana ;" and then 
turning to Apaharavarma, said, " I have 
followed your directions exactly, and hastened 



HINDOO TALES. 



on the advancing allies. We have just now 
encountered and utterly defeated the enemy, 
so that there is no fear of any further resist- 
ance. " 

Then Apaharavarma introduced the stranger 
to the prince, saying, " This is my dear 
friend Dhanamittra, well worthy of your 
respect and consideration ; for he is as brave 
and clever as he is handsome. With your 
permission, he will liberate the King of Anga, 
and re-establish the former authorities; mean- 
while, we will go on to a quiet place, and wait 
there for him and the princes who have come 
so opportunely to our assistance. 

Rajavahana agreed to this. They went a 
little further, and dismounted at a pleasant cool 
bank, shaded by a large banian tree, and 
close to the Ganges. 

When they had been for some time seated 



HINDOO TALES. JOI 

there, Dhanamittra returned, accompanied by 
Upaharavarma, Pramati, Mitragupta, Man- 
tragupta, Visruta, Praharavarma King of 
Mithila, Kamapala lord of Benares, and 
Sinhavarma King of Anga. 

The prince, astonished and delighted at 
such an unexpected meeting, warmly em- 
braced his young friends, and very re- 
spectfully saluted, as a son, the elder men 
introduced by them. Many questions were 
asked on both sides. After some conversation, 
Rajavahana told them his own adventures, 
and those of Somadatta and Pushpodbhava, 
and then begged his friends to relate theirs. 

Apaharavarma spoke first. 



ADVENTURES OF APAHARAVARMA. 

TV IT Y LORD, when you had gone away with 
the brahman, and we were unable to 
find you, I wandered about searching for you 
like the rest of your friends. 

One day I heard by chance of a very 
famous muni, living in a forest on the banks 
of the Ganges, not far from Champa, who was 
said to have supernatural knowledge of past 
and future events. 

Hoping to obtain some information about 
you, I determined to seek him out, and 
accordingly came here for that purpose. 
Having found the way to his dwelling, I saw 
there a miserable-looking man, very unlike 



HINDOO TALES. 103 

the holy devotee whom I had pictured to 
myself. Sitting down, however, beside this 
person, I said, " I have come a long way to 
consult the celebrated rishi Marichi, having 
heard that he is possessed of very wonderful 
knowledge. Can you tell me where to find 
him ?" 

Deeply sighing, he answered : " There was, 
not long ago, such a person in this place ; but 
he is changed — he is no longer what he was." 

" How can that be ?" I asked. 

" One day," he replied, " while that muni 
was engaged in prayer and meditation, he 
was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a 
famous actress and dancer, called Kamaman- 
jari, who, with dishevelled hair and eyes full 
of tears, threw herself at his feet. 

" Before he had time to ask the meaning 
of this, a confused crowd of her companions 



104 HINDOO TALES. 

came up, headed by an old woman, the 
mother of Kamamanjari, apparently in great 
agitation and distress. 

" When they were all a little quieted, he 
asked the girl the meaning of her tears, and 
for what purpose she had come to him. 

" She answered, apparently with great 
respect and bashfulness, i O, reverend sir, I 
have heard of your great wisdom, and your 
kindness to those who are willing to give up 
the pleasures of this world for the sake of the 
next. I am tired of the disgraceful life I am 
leading, and wish to renounce it/ Upon 
this, her mother, with her loose grey hairs 
touching the ground, interrupted her, and 
said, c Worthy sir, this daughter of mine 
would make it appear that I am to blame, 
but indeed I ha,ve done my duty, and have 
carefully prepared her for that profession for 



HINDOO TALES. 105 

which, b) r birth, she was intended. From 
earliest childhood I have bestowed the 
greatest care upon her, doing everything in 
my power to promote her health and beauty. 
As soon as she was old enough, I had her 
carefully instructed in the arts of dancing, 
acting, playing on musical instruments, sing- 
ing, painting, preparing perfumes and flowers, 
in writing and conversation, and even to 
some extent in grammar, logic, and philo- 
sophy. She was taught to play various 
games with skill and dexterity, and how to 
dress well, and show herself off to the 
greatest advantage in public ; I hired persons 
to go about praising her skill and beauty, 
and to applaud her when she performed in 
public, and I did many other things to pro- 
mote her success, and to secure for her liberal 
remuneration ; yet, after all the time, trouble, 



Io6 HINDOO TALES. 



and money which I have spent upon her, just 
when I was beginning to reap the fruit of my 
labours, the ungrateful girl has fallen in love 
with a stranger, a young brahman, without 
property, and wishes to marry him and give 
up her profession, notwithstanding all my 
entreaties, and representations of the poverty 
and distress to which all her family will be 
reduced if she persists in her purpose ; and 
because I oppose this marriage, she declares 
that she will renounce the world, and become 
a devotee/ 

" The muni compassionately said to the 
girl : ' You] will never be able to endure the 
hardships of such a life as you propose to 
lead — a life so different from that to which 
you have been accustomed. Heaven may be 
attained by all who duly perform the duties 
of their station ; take my advice then, give 



HINDOO TALES. 107 

up all thoughts of an undertaking which you 
will never accomplish, comply with your 
mothers wishes, return with her, and be 
content with that way of life in which you 
have been brought up/ 

"With many tears, she replied: ' If you 
will not receive me I will put an end to my 
wretched life/ 

" Finding her so determined, the muni, after 
some reflection, said to the mother and her 
companions : i Go away for the present ; come 
back after a few days ; I will give her good 
advice, and you will no doubt find her tired 
of living here, and quite ready to return/ 

" Thereupon they all went away, and she 
was left alone with the muni. At first she 
kept at a distance from him, taking care not 
to interrupt him in his meditations, but 
waiting on him unobtrusively, rendering him 



108 HINDOO TALES. 

many little services, watering his favourite 
trees, and gathering sacred grass, and flowers 
for offerings to the gods. Then, as he became 
more accustomed to her, she w^ould amuse 
him with songs and dances, and at last began 
to sit near him and talk of the pleasures of 
love. 

" One day, as if in all simplicity, she said : 
' Surely people are very wrong in reckoning 
virtue, wealth and pleasure as the three great 
objects of life?' 

" ' Tell me/ he answered, ( how far do you 
regard virtue as superior to the other two ?' 

" ' A very wise man like you/ she replied, 
' can hardly learn anything from an ignorant 
woman like me ; but since you ask, I will tell 
you what I think. There is no real acquisi- 
tion of happiness or wealth without virtue ; 
but the latter is quite independent of the 



HINDOO TALES. IC9 

other two. Without it, a man is nothing ; 
but if he fully possesses it, he is so purified 
by it that he may indulge in pleasures 
occasionally, and any sin connected with 
them will no more adhere to him than dust 
to a cloud. Look at all the stories of the 
amours of the gods. Are they the less wor- 
shipped on that account ? I think, therefore, 
that virtue is a hundred times superior to the 
other two/ With many such specious argu- 
ments as these, and by her winning ways, she 
contrived to make him madly in love ; so that, 
forgetting all his religious duties and former 
austerities, he thought only how to please 
her. 

"When she perceived this, she said to him : 
* Let us stay no longer in the forest, but go to 
my house in the town, where w^e can have 
many more enjoyments.' 



HO HINDOO TALES. 

" Utterly infatuated, he was ready to do 
her bidding; and she, having procured a 
covered carriage, took him in the evening 
to her own house. 

" The next day there was a great festival, 
at which the king was accustomed to appear 
in public and converse familiarly with his 
subjects. On such occasions he would often 
be surrounded by actresses and dancing girls. 

"On that day Kamamanjari persuaded the 
muni to put on a gay dress and accompany 
her to the park where the festival was held ; 
and he, thinking only of her, and miserable 
if she were away from him even for a short 
time, consented to go. On their arrival there, 
she walked with him towards the king, who, 
seeing her, said, with a smile : i Sit down here 
with that reverend man/ And all eyes were 
directed towards him. 



HINDOO TALES. Ill 

" Presently one of the ladies rose up, and, 
making a low obeisance to the king, said : 
'My lord, I must confess myself beaten by 
that lady; I have lost my wager and must 
now pay the penalty/ 

u Then a great shout of laughter arose ; 
the king congratulated Kamamanjari, and 
presented her with handsome ornaments. 

" After this she walked away with the 
astonished muni, followed by a great crowd, 
shouting applause. 

" Before reaching her own house, she turned 
round to him with a low obeisance, and 
said : ' Reverend sir, you have favoured me 
with your company a long time ; it will be 
well for you to attend now to your own 
affairs/ 

" Not having his eyes yet opened, he 
started as if thunderstruck, and said : ■ My 



HINDOO TALES. 



dear, what does all this mean ? What has 
become of the great love which you professed 
for me ?' 

" She smilingly answered: 'I will explain 
it all. 

" ' One day, that lady whom you saw in the 
park had a dispute with me as to which was 
the most attractive. At last she said : " You 
boast of your powers, forsooth ; go and try 
them on Marichi. If you can persuade him to 
accompany you here, then indeed you may 
triumph ; I will acknowledge myself your 
inferior." 

u ' This was the . reason of my coming to 
you ; the trick has been successful ; I have 
won my wager, and have now no further 
occasion for you/ 

" Bowed down by shame and remorse, the 
unhappy man slunk back to his hermitage, 



HINDOO TALES. 113 

miserable and degraded, bitterly lamenting 
his folly and infatuation, but resolved to 
atone for it by deep repentance and severe 
penance. 

" I am that wretched man ; you see, there- 
fore, that I am now quite unable to assist 
you. But do not go away ; remain in Champa. 
After a time I shall recover my former 
power." 

While he was telling me this sad story, the 
sun set, and I remained with him that night. 
The next morning, at sunrise, I took leave of 
him, and walked towards the city. On my way 
thither, as I passed a Buddhist monastery, 
I was struck by the appearance of a man 
sitting at the side of the road near it. He 
was extraordinarily ugly ; his body naked, 
with the exception of a rag round his waist ; 
and his face so covered with dirt, that the 

1 



114 HINDOO TALES. 



tears he was shedding left furrows as they 
rolled down his cheeks. 

Moved by compassion, I sat down near 
him, and inquired the reason of his distress, 
at the same time adding, " If it is a secret, I 
do not wish to intrude upon you." 

" i My misfortunes are well known/ he an- 
swered ; ' I can have no objection to telling you 
if you wish to hear them/ Then he began : 

" My name is Vasupalika ; but from my 
ugliness I am generally known as Viriipaka, — 
the deformed. I am the son of a man of some 
importance here, who left me a large fortune. 

" Among my acquaintance there was a 
person called Sundaraka, remarkably hand- 
some, but poor. Between us two some mis- 
chievous persons strove to excite a rivalry, 
pitting my money against his bea.uty and 
accomplishments. 



HINDOO TALES. 115 

" One da} r , in a large assembly, having got 
up a dispute between us, they said : 'It is not 
beauty or wealth, but the approbation of the 
ladies, which stamps the worth of a man ; 
therefore, let the famous actress, Kamamanjari, 
decide between you, and agree that she shall 
say who is the best man/ To this we both 
assented, and she, having been previously 
prepared for the part which she was to per- 
form, was brought into the room, and passing 
by my rival with scorn, sat down by my side, 
and, taking a garland from her own head, 
placed it on mine. 

" Greatly flattered and delighted by this 
preference, and blinded by a mad love for 
her, which I had not ventured to express, I 
most readily gave myself up to her seductions, 
and in a very- short time she obtained such an 
influence over me that everything I possessed 



Il6 HINDOO TALES. 

was at her disposal. Before long, she had so 
plundered me, and led me into such extrava- 
gance, that I was reduced to the most abject 
poverty, and had nothing I could call my own 
but this miserable rag which you now see me 
wear. 

" Cast off by her, blamed and reproached 
by the elder men, laughed at and despised 
by those who had been my companions in 
prosperity, I knew not where to turn ; and 
as a last resource I entered this Buddhist 
monastery, where I obtain a bare subsist- 
ence. 

"Distressed by the cutting off of my long 
hair, and by numerous restrictions as to 
eating, drinking, and sleeping, like a newly- 
caught elephant; and hearing every day abuse 
of those gods whom I used to worship ; filled 
with remorse for my departure from the 



HINDOO TALES. 117 

religion of my ancestors ; I am utterly 
miserable and only wish for death. " 

Having heard this pitiable story, I did 
what I could to comfort him, and said, "Do 
not despair; I have heard already of that 
wicked woman, and think I shall be able to 
find some means of making her restore to you 
a part at least of your property/' 

After leaving him, I went into the city, 
and finding, from popular report, that it was 
full of rich misers, I resolved to bring them to 
their proper condition by taking away their 
useless wealth. 

Occupied by this thought, I went into a 
gaming-house, where I was much interested 
and amused by watching the players and 
observing their tricks, their sleight-of-hand, 
their bullying or cringing behaviour to each 
other ; the reckless profusion of the winners, 



1 1 8 HINDOO TALES, 

the muttering despair of those who had 
lost. 

While overlooking a game of chess, I 
smiled and made some remark about a bad 
move of one of the players, upon which his 
opponent, turning to me with a sneer, said : 
"No doubt you think yourself very clever, 
but w T ait till I have finished off this stupid 
fellow, and I will play you for any stake you 
like/' 

When the game was over, accepting his 
challenge, I sat down to play, and won 
altogether sixteen* thousand dinars. Half of 
this sum I kept for myself, and half I divided 
between the gaming-house keeper and the 
players who were present. The latter were 
loud in praise of my generosity, and of the 
skill which I had shown in beating that 
boaster; the former asked me to dine with 



HINDOO TALES. 119 

him, and I often went to his house and 
became very intimate with him, and obtained 
from him much information, especially such 
as had reference to my purpose. 

One very dark night, fully directed by him, 
I set out, determined on robbery, equipped 
with a dark dress, a short sword, a spade, 
a crowbar, a pair of pincers, a wooden man's 
head,* a magic candle, a rope and grappling- 
iron, a box with a bee in it,t and some other 
implements. 

Selecting a house where-Lknew there w T as 
much money, I made a hole in theuvall, and 
finding all quiet, enlarged it, entered boldly, 
and carried off much booty. 

As I was returning, looking cautiously 
about me, I came suddenly upon a young 

* To be pushed in through opening in a wall, so as to receive 
any blow which might be given. 

f To be let loose that it might put out the lights. 



HINDOO TALES. 



woman, who was much alarmed at seeing me. 
Perceiving her agitation, I spoke to her 
kindly, and assured her that I would much 
rather assist than injure her. 

Encouraged by my words, she told me her 
story : " My name is Kulapalika ; I am the 
daughter of a rich merchant in this city, and 
was from childhood engaged to the son of 
another rich man, named Dhanamittra : he, 
however, being of a very generous dispo- 
sition, when he had succeeded to his father's 
property was preyed on by pretended friends 
and reduced to comparative poverty. Seeing 
this, my father refused his consent to our 
marriage, and, in spite of my reluctance, is 
determined to give me to a rich man, called 
Arthapati. To escape this marriage, T have 
slipped out from home by a secret passage, 
rarely used, and am going to the house of my 






HINDOO TALES. 



lover, who is expecting me and will take me 
away to some other country ; pray do not 
detain me, but accept this." So saying, she 
put one of her ornaments into my hand. I 
did not refuse it, but walked by her side, 
intending to escort her to her destination. 

We had, however, only gone a few steps, 
when I saw coming towards us, at no great 
distance, a large body of the citizen guard. 
Without losing a moment, I said to the 
trembling girl, "Don't be alarmed; say that 
I have been bitten by a serpent, and I will 
manage the rest." 

By the time they reached us I had thrown 
myself on the ground, and lay as if insensible, 
and she stood over me, crying. On being 
questioned, she answered, with many tears, 
and in evident distress : " My husband and I, 
coming from the country, lost our way, and 



HINDOO TALES. 



have only lately entered the city. Just now 
he was bitten by a serpent, and is all but 
dead. Is there any one among you skilled in 
charms who can recover him ?" 

Among the guard there chanced to be a 
very conceited man, who had often boasted 
of his skill, and was now delighted to have an 
opportunity of displaying it. He stood over 
me while the others waited, and, with many 
gesticulations, muttered various charms sup- 
posed to be efficacious in such a case ; but 
finding all of no avail, said at last, " Ah ! it is 
too late ; the poor man is past all remedies : 
what a pity I did not see him sooner \" Then, 
joining his companions, who were impatient 
to be off, he turned to the sobbing girl and 
said : " He was evidently fated to die ; who 
can prevail over fate ? It is useless to lament ; 
nothing more can be done now ; wait a little 






HINDOO TALES. 1 23 

while, and when we come back we will 
remove the body." 

As soon as they were out of sight I rose up, 
took her to the house of Dhanamittra, and 
said to him : " I met this lad}^ just now ; I have 
brought her safely here, and now restore the 
ornament which she gave me in her fright ; 
for, though I am a robber, I would not steal 
from one like her." 

Delighted at seeing her, he answered : " O, 
sir, you have indeed rendered me a great 
service in bringing this dear one in safety 
here ; such conduct is very extraordinary in a 
man of your way of life, and I am quite 
unable to understand your motives for acting 
thus. At all events, I am under very great 
obligation to you ; command my services in 
future." 

After some further talk, I asked him : 



124 HINDOO TALES. 

" Friend, what do you now intend to do ?" 

" It will be impossible/' he answered, "for 
me to live here if I marry her without her 
fathers consent ; I propose, therefore, to 
leave the town with her this very night/' 

" A clever man," I replied, " is at home in 
any place. Wherever he goes he may say this 
is my country. But, in travelling, many 
hardships must be endured — hunger, thirst, 
fatigue, and dangers from men and wild 
beasts ; — how will this tender girl be able 
to bear them ? 

" You seem to be wanting in wisdom and 
forethought in thus abandoning home and 
country. Take courage ! be guided by me, 
and you shall marry her and live comfortably 
here. But first we must take her back to her 
father's house." 

To this he consented without hesitation, 



HINDOO TALES. 125 

and we set out at once. Guided by her, we 
entered through the secret passage, carried 
off everything of value, and got away without 
exciting alarm. 

Having hidden our booty in some old ruins, 
we were going home, when we fell in with 
some of the city guard. Fortunately, there 
chanced to be an elephant tied up at the side 
of the road. We quickly, therefore, unfastened 
the rope, mounted him, and urged him at 
full speed ; and before the watchmen could 
recover from their confusion, w^ere out of 
sight. Halting the elephant close to the w r all 
of a deserted garden, we got over it with the 
help of the trees growing there, escaped on 
the other side, and reached home undetected, 
where we bathed and went to bed. 

The next day w r e walked out carefully 
dressed, and were amused at hearing an 



126 HINDOO TALES. 

exaggerated account of our adventures of 
the preceding night, which had caused much 
alarm and excitement in the city. 

I had hoped, by robbing the old man, to 
prevent the marriage of his daughter with 
Arthapati. But this hope was frustrated ; for 
the latter was not only willing to take 
Kulapalika without a dowry, but even made 
presents to her father; and it was settled 
that the marriage should take place at the 
end of a month. 

Finding this to be the case, I felt that 
something more must be done ; and having 
hit upon a plan which I thought would be 
effectual, I gave Dhanamittra directions how 
to act. 

According^, a few days afterwards, he 
went to the king, to whom he was pre- 
viously known, and having asked for a 



HINDOO TALES. 127 

private audience, said: "A very wonderful 
thing has happened to me, of which it 
seems right that your majesty should be 
informed. You have known me as Dhana- 
mittra, the son of a very rich man. During 
my prosperity, I was engaged to the daughter 
of a wealthy merchant ; but when I was 
reduced to poverty, he refused his consent 
to our marriage, and is now about to give 
her to another. 

" Driven to despair by the double loss of 
fortune and wife, I went into a wood near 
the city, intending to put an end to my 
wretched life. 

M There, when in the act of cutting my 
throat, I was stopped by a very aged devotee, 
who asked the cause of the rash act. 

" ' Poverty, and contempt/ I answered. 
"'There is nothing* more foolish and sinful 



128 HINDOO TALES. 

than suicide/ he replied. l A man of sense will 
endure adversity rather than escape from it 
in such a manner. Wealth, when lost, may 
be regained in many ways ; but life in none. 
A broken fortune may be repaired ; a cut 
throat can never be joined again. But why 
should I preach to you thus ? Here is a 
remedy for your misfortunes. This leather bag 
will give you abundant wealth. I have used 
it for assisting the deserving ; but now I am 
old and infirm, and am not long for this 
world. I give it to you. 

" ' Go home ; if you possess anything wrong- 
fully acquired, restore it to the right owner, 
and give away the rest of your property to 
brahmans and the poor. When this has 
been done, put away the purse carefully ; 
and in the morning it will be found full of 
gold. Remember that whoever possesses 



HINDOO TALES. I29 

it must comply with these conditions, and 
that it will yield its treasures only to a 
merchant like yourself, or to an actress/ 

"With these words, he handed me the 
purse, and immediately disappeared. 

"I have now brought the purse to your 
majesty, to know your pleasure concern- 
ing it." 

The king, though much astonished, be- 
lieving the story, told him to keep and 
enjoy it ; and in answer to his entreaty, 
promised that any one attempting to steal 
it should be severely punished. 

After this, Dhanamittra, making no secret 

of his acquisition of the purse, disposed of 

all his property somewhat ostentatiously, 

leaving himself absolutely nothing but the 

clothes which he wore ; and in the morning, 

having filled the purse with gold — the pro- 

K 



HINDOO TALES. 



ceeds of the robbery — he showed it to his 
neighbours, who were fully convinced of its 
magic powers. 

The fame of the purse was thus spread 
abroad ; and we were able to account for 
our newly-acquired wealth, without incurring 
any suspicion as to the manner of obtain- 
ing it. 

At this time, for reasons which will pre- 
sently appear, I induced Vimardaka to enter 
the service of Arthapati ; and directed him 
to use all possible means to excite his master 
against Dhanamittra. In this he had no 
difficulty ; for the father of Kulapalika, hear- 
ing of his sudden acquisition of wealth, did 
not even wait to be asked, but of his own 
accord renewed the former engagement, and 
rejected Arthapati. 

About that time it was publicly announced 



HINDOO TALES. 131 

that a younger sister of Kamamanjari — 
Ragamanjari by name — would make her first 
appearance as a dancer and singer. Great 
expectations having been raised, a large 
number of spectators, including myself and 
my friend Dhanamittra, were present at the 
performance. 

I was struck by her beauty the instant 
she appeared on the stage ; but when I heard 
her sweet voice, and saw her graceful move- 
ments, I was perfectly enchanted, and unable 
to take my eyes off her for a moment. 

The performance being ended, she with- 
drew, followed by the longing eyes and loud 
applause of the spectators ; and giving, as 
I fancied, a significant look at me. 

The next day I was anxious, restless, and 
unable to eat ; and could do nothing but 
roam about listlessly, or lie on the couch, 



132 HINDOO TALES. 

thinking of her, and making the excuse of 
a bad headache. 

My friend, seeing me in this state, easily 
guessed the reason of it, and said to me in 
private : " I know the cause of your uneasi- 
ness, and can give )^ou good hopes. That 
girl is virtuous, whatever her mother and 
sister may be ; and having watched her 
closely at the performance, I am convinced 
that she was much struck with you ; there- 
fore, if you are willing to make her your 
wife, there will be no great difficulties to 
overcome as far as she is concerned ; for, 
resisting all seductions and the persuasions 
of her wicked mother and sister, she has 
declared : ' No man shall have me except 
as a wife ; and I must be won by merit, 
not by money/ 

" On the other hand, her mother and sister, 



HINDOO TALES. 1 33 

fearing lest she should be withdrawn from 
the stage, have gone to the king, and ob- 
tained, through many tears and entreaties, 
a decree that if any man shall take the 
girl, either in marriage or not, without her 
mother s consent, he shall be put to death 
like a robber. Therefore, when you have 
gained her love, you must also obtain the 
mother's consent ; and that can only be done 
by means of a large bribe ; she will not 
listen to any other inducement." 

" I am equal to all this," I answered ; " I 
will win the young lady, and find means to 
satisfy the old one." And I lost no time in 
accomplishing my purpose. It was first 
necessary to make acquaintance with Kama- 
manjari, and to this end I found out a woman 
often employed by her as a messenger, and 
having gained her over by bribes, sent, 



134 HINDOO TALES. 

through her, a number of small presents, till 
at last Kamamanjari was disposed in my 
favour, and received me at her house. Mean- 
while I contrived to have secret interviews 
with her beautiful sister, who consented to be 
my wife. As soon as this was settled, I said 
to Kamamanjari, "I am desirous of obtain- 
ing your mother's consent to my marriage 
with your sister, who has accepted me. I 
know that if she ceases to perform, you will 
lose a large income; and, therefore, offer 
you in return something better and more 
certain. Procure for me the desired per- 
mission, and you shall have Dhanamittra's 
magic purse, which I will safely steal for 
you. " 

Delighted at the thought of possessing 
inexhaustible wealth, she agreed to this ; the 
mother's consent was formally given ; and on 



HINDOO TALES. 135 

the day of my marriage I secretly handed 
over the promised purse. 

Very soon after, Vimardaka, by my direc- 
tions, in a large assembly, began to abuse 
and insult Dhanamittra, who, as if much, 
astonished, said : "What does all this mean: 
Why should you annoy me I I am not aware 
that I have ever given you offence." 

He answered furiously: a You purse-proud 
wretch, do you think I will not take my 
master's part ? Have you not robbed him of 
his intended wife, by bribing her father ? Do 
you think he has no cause for anger against 
you r His interests are mine ; I am ready 
to risk my life for him, and I will pay you off. 
Some day you shall miss that purse, the 
source of the riches with which you are so 
puffed up." Saying this, he rushed out of the 
place in a rage; and though nothing w T as 



136 HINDOO TALES. 

done at the time, his words were not for- 
gotten. 

Then Dhanamittra went to the king, and 
declaring that he had lost the purse, men- 
tioned his suspicion of Arthapati, and the 
reason for it. He, having heard nothing of 
what his servant had said, when summoned 
and asked " Have you a confidential servant 
named Vimardakar" answered without hesi- 
tation, " Certainly ; he is a very trustworthy 
man, entirely devoted to my interest." 

" Bring him here to me/' 

Thus commanded, he searched everywhere 
for his servant, but was unable to find him ; 
and for a good reason, for I had furnished the 
man with money, and sent him to Oujein, to 
look for you. 

The supposed thief having disappeared, his 
master was put in prison till further evidence 



HINDOO TALES. 137 

could be procured, for no one but those in the 
secret doubted that he was the instigator of 
the theft. 

Meanwhile Kamamanjari, anxious to make 
use of the magic purse, proceeded to fulfil the 
conditions attached to its use. She went 
secretly to Virupaka, and restored the money 
of which she had robbed him, and then gave 
away all her furniture, clothes, and orna- 
ments. This, however, she did so incau- 
tiously, that attention was drawn to it ; upon 
which Dhanamittra went again to the king, 
saying : " I suspect that the actress, Kama- 
manjari, has got my purse ; for though 
notoriously avaricious, she is giving away 
everything she possesses, and there must be 
some strong reason for such a proceeding." 

In consequence of this information, she was 
summoned to appear the next day, together 



138 HINDOO TALES. 

with her mother; and the two women came 
in great alarm to consult me. 

I said to Kamamanjari: "No doubt you 
are suspected of having the purse. This 
suspicion has arisen from your own impru- 
dence, in giving away your property so 
openly. I much fear that you will have to 
give it up, and you will be fortunate if 
you escape without worse consequences. But 
you must on no account implicate me ; for 
then I should be put to death, all my 
property would be confiscated, your sister 
would die of grief, and you would be utterly 
ruined." 

She answered, with many tears : " It is 
indeed my own fault, but you shall be safe. 
That niggardly wretch, Arthapati, is known 
to be intimate with me. I will say that I 
received it from him ; and, as he is already 



HINDOO TALES. 1 39 

suspected of stealing it, I shall probably be 
believed/' 

To this I agreed, and the next day, when 
questioned, she at first denied all knowledge 
of the purse, then admitted having received 
it, but refused to say from whom, and at last, 
when threatened with torture, confessed, 
apparently with great reluctance, that Artha- 
pati was the giver ; and this being con- 
sidered sufficient evidence against him, he 
was condemned to death. 

Then Dhanamittra interceded for him, 
saying ; "A decree was formerly made by one 
of your ancestors, that no merchant or trader 
should be put to death for theft. I humbly 
entreat, therefore, that his life may be 
spared/' 

To this the king consented, the poor 
wretch was banished, and all his property 



140 HINDOO TALES. 

confiscated, a portion of it being given to 
Kamamanjari, at the earnest entreaty of 
Dhanamittra, who got back his purse, and 
shortly afterwards married Kulapalika. 

Having thus performed the promise to my 
friend, I increased my own wealth, and kept 
up the reputation of the purse by going on 
with my robberies, and so impoverished the 
rich misers, that some of them were glad to 
receive a morsel of food from the beggars to 
whom they had formerly refused help, and 
who were now enriched by my liberality. 

Still no suspicion fell on me ; but fate is 
all-powerful, and it was decreed that I should 
be caught at last. 

One night, sitting with my charming wife, 
intoxicated, partly with wine and partly with 
her sweet caresses, I was seized with mad- 
ness, and started up, saying : " All the wealth 



HINDOO TALES. 141 

in the city is not too much for you ; I will fill 
the house with jewels for your sake." Then, 
like a furious elephant who has broken his 
chain, I rushed out, in spite of her remon- 
strances, with a drawn sword, and attacked 
a body of police, who happened to be passing. 
Shouting out, "This is the robber!" they soon 
overpowered me, and I fell to the ground. 

The shock sobered me at once, and all the 
horror of the situation into which I had 
brought myself by my folly came into my 
mind. I thought to myself, my intimacy with 
Dhanamittra is well known ; suspicion will 
fall on him ; and unless I can turn it off, he, 
as well as my wife, will be arrested to-morrow ; 
and I quickly formed a plan by which they, 
and perhaps I myself, might be saved. But 
no time was to be lost ; and as they were 
about to take me awav, I called out to my 



142 HINDOO TALES. 

wife's nurse, Sringalika, who had followed 
me, " Begone, old wretch ! and tell that vile 
harlot your mistress, and her paramour, 
Dhanamittra, that she will never see her 
ornaments, nor he his magic purse again. 
I care not for life, if I am revenged on those 
two wretches." 

The old woman being remarkably quick- 
witted, at once understood my object in 
speaking thus, and very humbly accosting 
the police said : " Worthy sir, I entreat you 
to wait a moment, while I ask your prisoner 
where he has hid the ornaments of my 
mistress." 

To this they assented, and coming to me, 
she said : " O, sir, your jealousy is without 
cause ; whatever attentions that man may 
have paid my mistress, she is not to blame. 
Now that you are taken from her, she 



HINDOO TALES. 1 43 

will have no means of support, and must 
go on the stage again. How can she do 
this without her ornaments ? Take com- 
passion on her, and say where you have hid 
them." 

Then, as if my anger were appeased, I 
answered : " Why should I, who am about to 
die, harbour resentment ? Come close, and I 
will whisper where I have put them." 

In this manner I managed to give her a 
few hurried instructions. She went awav, 
with many blessings on me, and thanks to 
the men for their kindness ; and I was taken 
to the king's prison. 

At that time the governor of the prison 
was a very conceited young man, named 
Kantaka, who had lately succeeded to the 
office by the death of his father. "When I 
was brought in, looking at me in a very 



144 HINDOO TALES. 

contemptuous manner, he said : " So you are 
the thief who has committed so many rob- 
beries. If you do not give up the stolen 
property, and especially the magic purse, you 
shall suffer every possible variety of torture 
before you are put to death/' 

I answered, smiling, " Even though I should 
give up all the other stolen property, I will 
never let the purse go back to that wretch 
Dhanamittra, my greatest enemy. You 
may try all your tortures ; you will never 
get this secret out of me." 

Finding the fear of torture to have no 
effect, the next day he tried promises ; and 
so went on from day to day, with alternate 
soothing and threatening. 

Meanwhile, my wounds were attended to, 
and I was well fed ; so that I had regained 
my strength when, one day, Sringalika made 



HINDOO TALES, I45 

her appearance, well dressed, and with cheer- 
ful countenance. 

To my surprise, she was allowed to speak 
to me in private. She said to me, joyfully : 
" Your plan has succeeded. As you directed, 
I went to Dhanamittra and told him, from 
you : ' You must go to the king, and say, 
" The magic purse so lately restored has 
again been stolen by one whom I regarded 
as a friend — a certain gambler, the husband 
of the actress Ragamanjari. He has taken 
it from spite, being jealous of his wife, to 
whom, from kindness, I often made presents. 
He is now in prison for other offences ; and if 
he is put to death immediately, as he deserves, 
I fear that I shall never recover my purse. 
I pray, therefore, that he may not be executed 
before he has confessed where it is con- 
cealed. For he admits having taken it ; but 

L 



146 HINDOO TALES. 

declares that he will not give it up, unless 
his life is spared/" Your friend, admiring 
your ingenuity, and having full confidence in 
your resources, immediately went to the king 
and obtained his request, so that your life 
is safe for the present. 

" Meanwhile, with the help of gifts furnished 
by my mistress, I have formed an intimacy 
with the nurse of the Princess Ambalika, 
and have been introduced by her to the 
princess, whose favour I have gained by 
telling her amusing stories, and whom I 
have induced to feel an interest in the mis- 
fortune of my mistress. 

" One day, when I was standing near her 
in the gallery round the court-yard of the 
palace, Kantaka, having some business or 
other, passed through below us. Picking up 
a flower which the princess had dropped, I 



HINDOO TALES. 147 

let it fall on his head ; and when he looked 
up to see from whose hand it came, I ma- 
naged to make the princess laugh at some- 
thing which I said ; and the conceited fool, 
thinking that it was she who had dropped 
it to attract his attention, went away look- 
ing quite pleased and confused. 

" That same evening I received a present 
for my mistress, a small basket marked with 
the signet of the princess, and containing 
articles of no great value. This I took to 
Kantaka ; and begging him to observe the 
strictest secrecy, made him believe that the 
princess had sent it to him. He was even 
delighted when, another day, I brought him 
a dirty dress, telling him that she had worn it. 

" Finding him quite ready to believe this, 
and convinced that she was in love with 
him, I kept up an imaginary correspondence, 



I48 HINDOO TALES. 

bringing very loving messages from her, 
which I invented, and receiving many from 
him in return, which I took care not to 
deliver. His presents, of course, I kept for 
myself. 

" In this manner I have raised his hopes 
very high ; and to encourage him still further, 
I said : ' I have heard from a learned astro- 
loger, with whom I am acquainted, that you 
have certain marks upon you which indicate 
that you will one day be a king. This love 
on the part of the princess tends to the ful- 
filment of the prediction. You are therefore 
on the high road to fortune. If you have 
spirit enough to pursue it, all you have to 
do now is to obtain a secret interview with 
the lady ; the rest will follow in due time/ 

" ' But how can I manage this ?' he asked. 
' The wall of the garden/ I replied, ' com- 



HINDOO TALES. 149 



municating with the princess's apartments, is 
separated from those of the gaol by a space 
of a few yards only. You could not get over 
these walls ; but you might make an under- 
ground passage, and slip in unobserved ; and 
I will take care that there shall be some 
one to receive and conduct you to the 
princess. When once with her, you are safe ; 
for all her attendants are attached to her ; 
not one would betray the secret/ 

" ' But how can I make this underground 
passage ? J he asked. i I cannot dig it myself, 
or employ workmen/ 

" ' Have you no clever thief here/ I replied, 
< accustomed to such work ? ' 

u ' Well suggested/ he answered. ' I have 
just the right man/ 

" l Who is he r ' I said* 

" ' That man who has stolen the magic 



J 50 HINDOO TALES, 



purse/ said he. 'If he will set to work 
with a good will he will soon dig his way- 
through/ 

"'Very good/ I answered. 'You must 
persuade him by promising to let him go 
when the work is done. But it would never 
do for him to be in the secret ; therefore, 
when he has finished, put on his fetters 
again, and report to the king that he is 
exceedingly obstinate ; that you have tried 
all other means to make him confess, and 
that nothing remains but to put him to 
torture. No doubt the king will give orders 
accordingly; and you can easily manage so 
to inflict it that he shall die under it. When 
he is dead, your secret will be safe ; you 
can visit the princess as often as you like ; 
and, doubtless, in the end the king, rather 
than disgrace his daughter, will consent to 



HINDOO TALES. 151 

your marriage; and as he has no other- 
child, will make you his successor/ 

4 ' With this proposal he was quite delighted ; 
and has been treating you well, that you 
may have strength for the work. He intends 
to ask you to begin to-night ; and has sent 
me to persuade you, believing me to be 
devoted to his interests, and looking for- 
ward to some great reward when he has got 
his wish." 

Having heard this from the old woman, 
I gave her great praise, and said : " Lose no 
time. Tell him I am quite ready to do the 
work." 

After this, Kantaka came to me, told me 
what he wanted, and swore a solemn oath 
that I should be liberated when the work was 
done ; and I, in return, swore to keep his secret. 

Then he took off my fetters ; I got a bath 



1 $2 HINDOO TALES. 

and a good dinner, and presently set to 
work in a dark corner, under the wall. 
Soon after midnight the work was done, 
and an opening made into the courtyard of 
the women's apartments. 

Before returning, I thought to myself: 
" This man has sworn an oath which he 
intends to break : for the preservation of 
my own life, therefore, I shall be justified 
in killing him." 

Having formed this resolution, I went back 
to the prison, where Kantaka was waiting 
for me. He told me it was necessary to 
replace my fetters for the present ; and I 
appeared to acquiesce. But as he was stoop- 
ing to fasten them, I gave him a violent 
kick ; and before he coifld recover himself, 
I had snatched a short sword which he 
wore, and cut off his head. 



HINDOO TALES. 153 

I then returned to Sringalika, who had 
remained in the prison, and said to her : " I 
am not disposed to have had all this toil for 
nothing. Tell me the way into the ladies' 
rooms. I will go there and steal something 
before I make my escape." 

Having received her directions, I passed 
again through the tunnel which I had made, 
came up into the court-yard, and from thence 
entered a large, lofty room lighted by jewelled 
lamps, where a number of women were 
sleeping. 

There, on a couch ornamented with beauti- 
fully carved flowers and resting on lions' feet, 
I saw the princess, covered only by a thin 
silken petticoat, half sunk into a soft white 
feather-bed, like lightning on an autumn cloud. 

Fast asleep, as if wearied by much play, 
she lay in a very graceful attitude, with her 



154 HINDOO TALES. 



delicate ancles crossed, her knees slightly 
drawn up ; one lovely hand laid loosely on 
her side, the other beneath her head ; her full 
bosom, slowly heaved by gentle breathing, 
illuminated by the ruby necklace strung on 
burnished gold ; the top-knot of her loosened 
hair hanging down like some graceful flower ; 
her lips so bright that the opening of the 
mouth could hardly be distinguished; her 
features in calm repose, shaded by her lovely 
ringlets. 

I had entered so softly that no one was 
disturbed ; and I stood gazing for some time 
lost in admiration of her beauty, quite forget- 
ting the purpose for which I had come. 

I thought, she is, after all, the lady of my 
heart. If I do not obtain her, Kama will not 
suffer me to live ; but how can I make known 
my love to her ? Were I now to wake her, 



HINDOO TALES. 155 



she would start up with a cry of alarm, and I 
should probably lose my life. I must think of 
some other way of letting her know my 
love. 

Then, looking round, I saw laid on a shelf a 
thin board prepared for painting, and a box of 
paints and brushes. "With these I made a 
hasty sketch of the princess as she lay, and of 
myself kneeling at her feet, and underneath it 
I wrote this verse : — 

[ u Of thee thy slave in humble attitude thus prays : 
Sleep on, not worn like me by pervading love." 

I then painted on the wall near her a pair of 
chakravakas in loving attitude, gently took off' 
her ring, replacing it with mine, and slipped 
out without disturbing any of the sleepers. 

There was at that time among the prisoners 
a man named Sinhaghosha, formerly a chief 



15^ HINDOO TALES. 



officer of police, but now imprisoned through 
a false accusation made by Kantaka. 

With this man I had already made acquaint- 
ance, and I now went to him and told him 
how I had killed Kantaka. With his con- 
sent I went forth from the prison, and walked 
away with Sringalika. We had not gone far 
when we fell in with a patrol. I thought to 
myself I could easily run away from them ; 
but what w^ould become of the poor old 
woman ? she would certainly be caught. 
Hastily determining, therefore, on what was 
best to be done, I walked right up to them 
with unsteady gait and idiotic look, and 
said : " Sirs, if I am a thief kill me, but you 
have no right to touch this old woman/' 

She, perceiving my intention, came up, and 
very humbly said : " Honoured sirs, this 
young man is my son. He has been for some 



HINDOO TALES. 157 

time confined as a lunatic ; but was supposed 
to be cured, and I brought him home yester- 
day. In the middle of the night, however, he 
started up, and calling out : ' I will kill Kan- 
taka and make love to the king's daughter/ 
rushed out into the street. I have at last 
overtaken him, and am trying to take him 
home. Will you be so good as to help me, 
and tie his hands behind him that he may not 
get away again V 

As she said this, I called out : " O old woman, 
who ever bound a god or the wind ? Shall 
these crows catch an eagle V and started off 
at full speed. She, renewing her entreaties, 
begged them to pursue me ; but they only 
laughed at her, and said : " Do you think w^e 
have nothing to do but to run after madmen r 
You must be as mad as he is to have taken 
him out ;" and so they w T ent on their way. 



158 HINDOO TALES. 

I stopped when I found I was not pursued. 
She soon overtook me, and we went to my 
house, to the great joy of my wife, who had 
scarcely hoped for my deliverance. 

In the morning I saw Dhanamittra, told him 
all that had happened, and thanked him for 
following my directions so punctually. 

After this I went to the forest, to see 
Marichi. I found him restored to his former 
condition, and able to give me the desired in- 
formation. From him I learnt that you would 
be here about this time. 

In the morning after my escape, Sinha- 
ghosha informed the king of what had hap- 
pened, and how Kantaka had been killed 
wiien about to enter the princess's apartments. 
Being found to be innocent of the crime of 
which he was accused, he w T as appointed 
governor of the prison in Kantaka s place. 



HINDOO TALES. I 59 

Before the underground passage was filled 
up, he permitted me to pass through it more 
than once to the princess, who was favourably 
disposed towards me through the picture and 
verse, and still more by all that Sringalika 
had said in my favour. 

No great search was made after me, and by 
keeping quiet and going out only at night I 
escaped further arrest. 

You know how Chandavarma besieged 
Champa, and how T Sinhavarma was defeated 
and taken prisoner. When I heard this, 
and how the conqueror intended to force the 
princess to marry him, I went to Dhanamittra 
and said : u Do you go about among the 
ministers and officers of the imprisoned king 
and the principal citizens, and tell them to 
be ready to attack the enemy as soon as they 
hear of the death of Chandavarma. I will 
engage to kill him to-morrow." 



l6o HINDOO TALES. 



How Dhanamittra has performed his part 
you have just seen. As to myself, I put on a 
dress suitable for the occasion, and, as many 
persons were going in and out of the palace, 
managed to slip in unobserved and get very 
near the intending bridegroom. Suddenly 
stretching out my arm as he was about to 
take the hand of the princess, I gave him a 
mortal wound with a sword; then saying a 
few hasty words of encouragement to her, I 
defended myself against those who endea- 
voured to seize me, till I heard your welcome 
voice, deep as the sound of thunder, and had 
the happiness of embracing you. 

Rajavahana, having heard this story, said: 
" You have indeed shown wonderful ingenuity 
and courage ;" then he turned to Upahara- 
varma, and said: "It is now your turn;" 
and he, having made due salutation, thus 
began : — 



ADVENTURES OF UPAHARAVARMA. 

T T 7HILE wandering about like the others, 
I came one day into the country of 
Videha. Before entering into Mithila, the 
capital, I stopped to rest at a small temple, 
and found there an old woman, who gave me 
water for my feet. 

Observing that she looked at me very hard, 
and that tears came into her eyes, I asked 
her : " O, mother, what is the cause of your 
grief?" 

"You bring to my mind," she answered, 
"the remembrance of my lost foster-child, 
who, if he lives, is just about your age. But 
I will tell you how he was lost. 

M 



I 6 2 HINDOOTALES. 

" Praharavarma was formerly king of this 
country. His queen was a very dear friend 
of Vasumati, wife of Rajahansa, King of 
Magadha, and he went with her and his 
twin sons to visit that king. How he was 
conquered and driven from his dominions 
by the King of Malwa you have doubtless 
heard. It was shortly before that invasion 
that the visit w r as made. In the battle which 
was fought, Praharavarma assisted his friend, 
and was taken prisoner, but was subsequently 
liberated. 

i€ When returning to his own kingdom, he 
heard that a rebellion had broken out, headed 
by his brothers son, Vikatavarma. He 
therefore turned aside through a forest road, 
in the direction of Suhma, hoping to obtain 
assistance from his sister's son, the king of 
that country. On the march, he was attacked 



HINDOO TALES. 163 

and plundered by Bheels ; and I, having 
charge of one of his children, was separated 
from the party, and left behind in the forest. 

" There I was attacked by a tiger, and 
dropped the child. The tiger was killed by 
an arrow ; but I fainted away, and when I 
recovered, the child was gone, taken away, 
I suppose, by the Bheels. Having been 
found and taken care of by a compassionate 
cowherd, I stayed at his cottage till my 
wounds were healed. 

" Longing to get back to my friends, and 
to hear some tidings of my mistress, I was 
surprised one day by the appearance of my 
daughter, who had been, with me, in charge 
of the other child. 

u After mutual congratulations and em- 
braces, she told me her story as follows : 
' After we were parted, I was wounded by the 



164 HINDOO TALES. 

robbers, lost the child, and was found wander- 
ing about by one of the foresters, who took 
care of me, and afterwards wished to make 
me his wife. I was too much disgusted with 
him and his way of life to consent ; and, after 
many threats, he would at last have killed me, 
but for the opportune arrival of a young man 
who happened to be passing, and rescued me 
from his hands. That young man has since 
become my husband. "We have been searching 
for you, and have now happily found you/ 

" I asked who the man was. He answered : 
' I am a servant of the King of Mithila, to 
whom I am now going/ Then we all three 
went to Mithila, and told the king and queen 
the sad news of the loss of their children. 

"The war was still going on, and at last 
the king was overcome and imprisoned, to- 
gether with his queen, by his wicked nephew. 



HINDOO TALES. 165 

" Since then I have been living as a mendi- 
cant. My daughter, whose husband was 
killed in the war, being destitute like myself, 
has entered the service of Kalpasundari, 
queen of the usurper. Ah ! if those princes 
had lived, they would have rescued their 
father from such degradation." 

She began then to weep and lament ; but I 
comforted her, and said: "Do you not 
remember speaking to a certain muni, and 
telling him of the loss of the child ? That 
boy was found by him. I am he, and I will 
contrive some means for killing that wicked 
usurper, and setting my parents free. No 
one can recognise me here, not even my own 
mother, were she to see me ; therefore I shall 
be able at my leisure to consider what is best 
to be done." 

Exceedingly delighted at hearing this, she 



l66 HINDOO TALES. 

kissed me again and again, and said, with 
tears of joy : " O, darling ! a glorious fortune 
is before you. Now you are here, all will 
be well ; you will soon lift up your parents 
from the sea of sorrow which has engulfed 
them. Happy is Queen Priyamvada in having 
such a son !" 

Then she gave me such food as she had, 
and I stayed with her, and passed the night 
in that temple. 

As I lay awake, I turned over in my mind 
every plan that suggested itself to me for the 
accomplishment of my purpose. Knowing 
how ready-witted women are in general, and 
their fondness for tricks and intrigues, it 
occurred to me that my foster-sister, from her 
position near the queen, might be able to give 
me material assistance. 

In the morning, after worshipping the gods, 



HINDOO TALES. 1 67 

I began to question the old woman as to her 
knowledge of the interior of the palace, and 
asked whether she had frequent opportunities 
of seeing her daughter. Scarcely had she 
begun to answer my questions w T hen I saw 
some one coming towards us, and she ex- 
claimed : " O, Pushkarika, behold our 
masters son ; that dear child whom I so 
carelessly lost in the forest was found and 
preserved, and is now restored to us/ 5 

Great was the daughter's delight at seeing 
me ; and, when her agitation had subsided, 
her mother said to her : " I was just beginning 
to tell my dear son something of the arrange- 
ment of the palace, and the habits of the 
inmates ; but you can give him the required 
information much better than I can." 

In answer to this she told me all the arrange- 
ments of the palace, and added : "The Queen 



l68 HINDOO TALES. 

Kalpasundari, the daughter of the sovereign 
of Kumara, is exceedingly beautiful and ac- 
complished. She despises her husband, who 
is exceedingly ugly ; but though unkindly 
treated, and neglected, she has hitherto been 
faithful to him." 

Hearing this, I said to her : " Whenever 
you have an opportunity, dwell on the king's 
licentiousness ; find out, if possible, his 
scandalous amours ; make much of them ; tell 
her how other women have behaved in 
similar circumstances ; in short, do every- 
thing to stir up her indignation and jealousy 
against him ; and, as soon as possible, let me 
know what she says. You may help me 
greatly in this affair; therefore be diligent 
and observant, and be as much as possible 
with your mistress." 

Then I said to the old woman : " You must 



HINDOO TALES. J69 

also play your part. You can be introduced 
to the queen as a woman skilled in charms 
and fortune -telling. When you get her 
to listen to you, make the most of the op- 
portunity, and second your daughter's en- 
deavours/' 

They both promised to do their utmost. 
After they were gone I took a small house, 
close to the w r all of the royal gardens, and 
waited patiently for the result. 

After some clays the old woman came to 
me, and said : " Darling, we have done 
exactly as you wished. The queen has taken 
a great fancy to me, is very indignant with 
her husband, and thinks herself greatly to be 
pitied. What is now to be done ?" 

I then painted a portrait of myself, and 
said : " Show this to the queen ; she will no 
doubt admire it, and say : ' Is this a portrait 



170 HINDOO TALES. 



or a fancy picture?' Then do you answer: 
' Suppose it should be a portrait of some living 
person ; what then ?' And whatever she says 
in reply let me know as soon as possible. " 

The next day she came to me again, and 
said : " When I showed your portrait to the 
queen, she gazed at it a long time, and 
seemed lost in admiration ; then she ex- 
claimed, i Who can have painted this ? Is it 
possible that such a handsome man can exist 
in the world r Surely there is no one here like 
this'/ I answered, ( O lady, your admiration 
is quite natural, such a handsome man is very 
rarely to be found, but still there might be 
such a one ; and if this should be really the 
portrait of a young man, longing to see you — 
not only thus handsome, but of good birth, 
very learned, accomplished, and good- 
tempered — what would you say then ?' ' What 



HINDOO TALES. 171 

would I say : I say, that if he will be mine, 
all that I can give him in return, myself, my 
heart, my body, my life, will be all too little. 
But surely you are only deceiving me ; there 
never can be such a charming person as this 
picture represents/ 

" In answer to this, I said : ' I am not de- 
ceiving you. There is really such a person, a 
young prince, who is staying here in disguise ; 
he saw you when you were walking in the 
public park, at the feast of Spring, and im- 
mediately became a mark for the arrows of 
Kama. Moved by his entreaties, and seeing 
how suited you are to each other, I have 
ventured to take this means of making his 
passion known to you. If you will but consent 
to see him, however difficult access to you 
may be, his courage, prudence, and ingenuity 
are so great, that he will certainly effect it ; 



172 HINDOO TALES. 



only say what your pleasure is.' Then, finding 
her quite disposed to see you, I told her your 
real name and birth. After reflecting some 
time, 'she said, ' Mother, I will not conceal 
from you a circumstance which his name 
brings to my memory. My father was a great 
friend of the deposed king, and their queens 
were very much attached to each other. It was 
•settled between them, that if the one had a 
son, and the other a daughter, the two children 
should be engaged for marriage ; but when 
the Queen Priyamvada had lost her sons, my 
father gave me in marriage to Vikatavarma. 
This young prince was really destined to be 
my husband, and I ought to have had him, 
instead of that ugly wretch, who is stupid, 
ignorant of all the arts of pleasing, brutal, 
rebellious, cruel, boastful, false, and, above 
all, most insulting in his behaviour to me ; 



HINDOO TALES. 1 73 

only yesterday he ill-treated my favourite 
attendant, Pushkarika, and gathered flowers 
from a plant which I had especially 
cherished, to give to one of his paramours, 
a low vulgar woman, who is trying to put 
herself on an equality with me. He is in 
every way unsuited to me, and my misery 
is so great, that I am ready to catch at any 
means of escape from it. It was wretched 
enough w T hile I thought on no one else, but 
now that 1 have heard of this charming young 
man, and seen his portrait, I will endure it no 
longer, whatever the consequences may be. 
Therefore, let him come to-morrow evening to 
the Madhavi bower in the garden. I am 
impatient to see him ; even the hearing of him 
has filled my heart with love/ 3i 

When the old nurse had given me this 
account, I determined to risk the adventure, 



174 HINDOO TALES. 

and obtained from her a minute description 
of the garden, the direction of the road and 
paths, the exact situation of the summer- 
house where I was to meet the queen, and 
where the guards were stationed. 

Having carefully impressed all these details 
on my memory, I waited impatiently for the 
following night, and lay down to rest. As 
I lay I thought on the difficulty of the enter- 
prise, of the sin of seducing the wife of 
another, and of what Rajavahana and my 
other friends would say to such conduct. On 
the other hand, I seemed to be justified by 
the object I had in view, the liberation of my 
parents. 

Perplexed with these conflicting thoughts 
I fell asleep, and dreamed that Vishnu ap- 
peared to me, and said : " Go on boldly, with- 
out hesitation ; what you are about to do, 



, 



HINDOO TALES. 175 

though it may seem sinful, is approved of by 
me." Encouraged by this vision, I rose in the 
morning, fully confirmed in my purpose. The 
tedious day came at last to an end, and dark- 
ness set in. 

When the proper time arrived, I put on a 
close-fitting dark dress, girded on my sword, 
and set out on the dangerous enterprise. 

Concealed at the edge of the ditch, I found 
a long bamboo, which the old woman had 
procured for me. This I laid across, and so 
got to the bottom of the wall. Then, cau- 
tiously raising it, I climbed to the top, just 
where a large heap of bricks had been piled 
up inside. Using these as steps, I got safely 
to the ground, and walked northward, through 
an avenue of champaka trees, where, as a 
favourable omen, I heard the low murmuring 
cry of a pair of chakravakas. 



176 HINDOO TALES. 



Taking an almost opposite direction, I saw 
before me what appeared to be a great build 
ing, and it was only by touching it that I 
found it to be a clump of trees. Going east- 
ward, and turning once more to the south, I 
passed through some mango trees, and saw 
the light of a lantern shining among the 
leaves. I then knew that I was right, and 
went straight up to the bower, inside of 
which was a summer-house, with steps lead- 
ing up to it, and spread with soft twigs and 
flowers for a carpet. The room was furnished 
with a handsome couch, a golden water-jar, 
trays of flowers, fans, &c. After I had been 
seated a short time, I heard the tinkling of 
ornaments and smelt a powerful perfume. 
Rising up hastily, I slipped out, and stood 
concealed by the shrubs outside. Presently 
I saw the lady enter ; she looked about her, 



HINDOO TALES. 177 

and not seeing me, was evidently disap- 
pointed and distressed, I heard her sa) r , with 
a sad low voice, "Alas ! I am deceived, he is 
not coming ; O my heart, how can this be 
borne ? O adorable Kama, what have I done 
to offend thee, that thou thus burnest me and 
dost not reduce me to ashes ?" 

Having heard this, I made my appearance, 
and said : " O lovely lady, do you ask how 
you have offended Kama ? You have given 
him great offence, since you disparage his 
beloved Rati by your form, his bow by your 
arched eyebrows, his arrows by your glances, 
his great friend, the perfumed wind of Malaya, 
by your sweet breath, the notes of his favour- 
ite bird by your voice. For all this Kama 
justly torments you. But I have done nothing 
to offend him ; why should he so distress me r 
Have pity on me, and cure the wound inflicted 

N 



178 HINDOO TALES. 

by the serpent of love, with the life-giving 
antidote of an affectionate look." 

Delighted at seeing me, she required no 
entreaty on my part, and readily yielded to 
my embrace ; and, sitting down on the couch, 
we conversed as though we had been long 
acquainted. 

At last the time for separation arrived, 
and I rose up to go ; but she with tears de- 
tained me, saying : " When you depart, my 
life seems to follow. If you go, let me go with 
you." 

I answered : " O my beloved, that is im- 
possible. If you love me, be guided by me, 
and we shall soon meet again, not to be 
parted." 

This she readily promised, and 1 told her 
exactly what was to be done. Then quitting 
her with reluctance, I returned safely by the 



HINDOO TALES. 179 

way I had come, and she went back to the 
palace. 

The next day she showed the picture to the 
king, who greatly admired it, and asked her 
where she had got it. She told him : u I have 
lately made acquaintance with a very wonder- 
ful old woman, who has travelled over many 
countries and seen many strange things ; she 
is very skilful in charms, and has brought me 
this picture, saying : ' It has very great magical 
powers, and so confident am I in their efficacy 
that I ask for no payment or reward until you 
have fully proved them/ She tells me that if 
certain ceremonies are performed, and mantras 
which she has taught me, are recited in a re- 
tired spot at midnight, I shall be changed to 
a person exactly resembling the portrait, and 
shall have the power of transferring that 
form to you while I regain my own shape. 



HINDOO TALES. 



I have thought it right to tell you this ; but 
do not act hastily : show the picture to your 
ministers and consult them/' 

The king, greatly astonished, but very de- 
sirous of obtaining such a handsome body, 
asked the opinion of his counsellors and 
younger brothers, and they saw no reason 
why the experiment should not be tried. 

The hour of midnight on the day of full 
moon was therefore appointed for the cere- 
mony, and there was much talk in the city 
about it. 

" O the wonderful power of magic ! Through 
the skill of the queen, the king will obtain a 
new body fit for a god." 

" But is there no danger ?" 

" How can there be danger when the cere- 
mony is to be performed by his own queen, in 
his own private gardens, where no stranger 



HINDOO TALES. 



can enter ? Besides, have not the learned and 
clever ministers and counsellors approved of it, 
and is it likely that they would be deceived I" 

The city was full of such talk as this, and 
the people awaited with impatience the night 
appointed for the working of the miracle. 

When the time arrived a great heap was 
made in a part of the garden where four 
roads met, not far from the summer-house, 
with large quantities of sandal-wood, lig- 
naloes, and other sweet -smelling woods, 
camphor, silk dresses, sesamum, saffron, and 
various spices ; and several animals, duly 
slaughtered by the priests, were laid upon it ; 
and the fire having been lighted, every one 
withdrew except the king and queen. She 
then said to him : "You know how faithless 
you have been to me, and with this handsome 
body you will be a much greater attraction to 



HINDOO TALES. 



other women. I know the fickleness of your 
disposition. Can you expect that I will con- 
fer on you this beauty for the sake of my 
rivals V* 

Then he threw himself at her feet, and said : 
" O my darling, forgive my transgressions. I 
swear by everything solemn that in future I 
will keep to you only, and not even think of 
any other woman." 

After these and many other protestations, she 
appeared to be satisfied, and said : "Now with- 
draw to that clump of trees, and stay there till 
I ring the bell; then you may come again to the 
fire and see the wonderful change in me." 

Meanwhile, under cover of the thick smoke 
arising from the burning of all those sub- 
stances, I had climbed the wall as before, and 
was standing in the summer-house when the 
queen came in. She said : " Everything is 



HINDOO TALES. 183 

ready. I regard myself now as entirely 
yours ; nothing shall part us any more ;" and, 
throwing her arms round my neck, she kissed 
me again and again. 

Saying to her, " Stay here concealed while 
I finish the work/' I quitted her, went to the 
place of sacrifice, and rang a bell hanging on 
a neighbouring tree ; and the sound sum- 
moned the king, like a messenger of death. 

He found me standing by the fire, throwing 
on it more sandal-wood, lignaloes, and other 
precious things ; and as he stood gazing in 
fear and astonishment, and hardly believing 
his eyes, I said to him : " Remember what 
you have promised, and now swear to me 
again, taking this sacred fire as a witness, 
that you will renounce all other women, and 
keep to me only/' 

He answered : " O queen, there is no de- 



184 HINDOO TALES. 

ceit in me. I will do all that I have pro- 
mised/' and he repeated his former oaths. 

But as if not satisfied with this, I said : " I 
must have some other proof of your sincerity. 
Tell me some of your state secrets/' 

Then he told me : " My father's brother, 
Praharavarma, has been for a long time in 
prison ; with the consent of my ministers, I 
intend to poison him, and give out that he 
has died of old age and infirmities. 

" I am preparing an army, to be com- 
manded by my brother, for the invasion of 
Pundra without any declaration of war. 

" There is a merchant here possessed of a 
diamond of immense value. I am contriving 
a plan by which I shall get it from him at a 
tenth of its worth. 

"There is a man of wealth and influence 
very displeasing to me. I have engaged a 



HINDOO TALES. 185 

certain person, named Satahali, the governor 
of the district, to bring a false accusation 
against him, and by that means to stir up the 
people, and so cause his death in a popular 
tumult, which will take away all blame or 
suspicion from me," 

When I had heard all these things, saying, 
" Die the death which your wicked deeds 
deserve," I suddenly seized him by the throat, 
stabbed him in a moment to the heart, and 
threw the body into the great fire, where it 
was quickly consumed ; after which I went 
back to the queen, who was anxiously await- 
ing me. Though much agitated, she was 
more relieved at having got rid of that wretch 
than shocked at the manner of his death ; and 
having quieted and consoled her without 
much difficulty, I went at once with her to 
her apartments. 



l86 HINDOO TALES. 



On seeing him, whom they believed to be 
the king, so changed, the women and atten- 
dants who met us were evidently much asto- 
nished, but so much had been said beforehand 
about the wonderful transformation to be ex- 
pected, that no one seemed to doubt that I was 
really the king with a new body ; and having 
said a few words of encouragement to them, I 
was received with great respect. 

The rest of the night was passed in hearing 
from the queen as much as possible about the 
court, the ministers, &c, so that I might not 
appear to be ignorant of what the king must 
have known, when I should meet them on the 
morrow. 

In the morning, after the performance of 
due worship of the gods, I met the ministers 
in council, and they also were so convinced of 
the power of magic that they did not hesitate 



HINDOO TALES. 187 

to acknowledge me as their master, express- 
ing their delight at the happy change. 

Then I said to them : " With this new body 
I have new feelings and purposes. I repent 
of my cruelty to my uncle, and instead of 
getting rid of him as I had intended, it is my 
pleasure that he shall be taken from prison 
and treated with all proper respect. 

" That diamond, of which I had intended 
to get possession, must not be obtained by 
fraudulent means. If I should decide on 
having it, I will pay the full price." 

To the brother who had been appointed 
to command the army, I said: "Dear brother, 
our purpose is changed with regard to that 
invasion. You will only watch the frontier ; 
and if there is any beginning of war on the 
part of the Pundras, attack them vigorously ; 
but not otherwise." 



1 88 HINDOO TALES. 



I sent also for Satahali, and said : " You 
know that I wished to get rid of Anantasira, 
because he was suspected of being a partisan 
of the deposed king. Now that I am re- 
conciled to my uncle, there is no occasion 
for anything to be done to him ; you will 
therefore take no further steps in that affair/' 

When the ministers heard all this, and 
perceived me to be acquainted with secrets 
known only to the king and themselves, 
they were quite confirmed in their first im- 
pression ; and w r hile congratulating me and 
the queen, were loud in their praise of the 
power of magic. 

My parents were immediately liberated 
from prison ; and having been informed by 
the old nurse of what had been done by 
me, w T ere quite prepared when I went to 
them in public ; and afterwards, when we 



HINDOO TALES. 189 



met in private, were able to give way to 
their feelings of affection and delight at 
seeing me again. 

After a short time, with the consent of 
my wife, I resigned the crown, and re- 
instated my parents in their former position ; 
retaining for myself the dignity of heir- 
apparent. 

Soon afterwards, a letter arrived from 
Sinhavarma, an old friend of my fathers, 
congratulating him on his restoration, and 
asking for help against Chandavarma, who 
was marching to attack him. Upon which 
I hastily equipped an army, and marched to 
his assistance ; and have now had the great 
happiness of meeting with you, as well as 
of helping to defeat the enemy. 

Rajavahana having heard this story, smiled, 
and said : " Truly, our friend here has com- 






190 HINDOO TALES. 



mitted great sins ; but how can I blame 
him when his motives were so good, and 
he had the praiseworthy object of liberating 
from a long imprisonment those who are so 
dear to him, and of punishing the usurper 
and oppressor ? His courage and ingenuity- 
have been great ; and I congratulate him on 
his success." 

Then turning to Arthapala, he said : " Do 
you relate your adventures." And he imme- 
diately began his story in the following 
manner : — 



ADVENTURES OF ARTHAPALA. 

TV It Y LORD, having the same object as 
your other friends, I wandered about 
over various countries in search of you. In 
the course of my travels, I arrived one day at 
the sacred city of Benares. There I bathed 
in the pure crystal water of the river ; and 
duly worshipped the mighty god, the slayer 
of Andhaka, at his temple outside the city. 
After finishing my devotions, I was going 
on my way, when I saw a tall, stout man, 
carrying an iron club, with his eyes red 
and swelled from w T eeping, and engaged in 
making a noose with his sash. 

I thought to myself: "This man has 



J92 HINDOO TALES. 

fallen into some great calamity. He is think- 
ing of doing violence to himself or to others. 
I will see if I can assist him." I therefore 
went up to him, and said : " This conduct 
of yours seems to indicate some rash purpose. 
May I know the cause of your grief? Perhaps 
I may be able to help you." 

He hesitated for a moment, and looked 
very hard at me ; but at last he said : 
" What harm can there be in telling you ? 
You shall know my troubles, if you wish 
to learn them/' 

Then we sat down together under a shady 
tree, and he began his tale as follows : 

" O, fortunate sir, I was once as happy 
as you appear to be. My father was in 
good circumstances, and brought me up 
carefully ; but I preferred a wild, dissipated 
life, and at last became a robber. One 



HINDOO TALES. 193 

night I broke into the house of a rich man 
in this city, was caught in the act, and 
condemned to death. 

" My hands were fettered by being passed 
through holes in a heavy piece of wood ; 
and in this state I was led out for execu- 
tion into a public square, where a furious 
elephant was brought forward to trample 
me to death. When he came near me, I 
shouted as loudly as possible, in order to 
frighten him ; and lifting up my arms, gave 
him a violent blow on the trunk. Upon 
this, he turned away ; and as I continued 
to shout out and abuse him, all the efforts 
of the driver to make him attack me were 
in vain. 

" Again and again, w T ith much difficulty, 
the driver brought him in front of me ; but 
each time, instead of attacking me, he turned 

o 



194 HINDOO TALES. 

back, alarmed by my menacing appearance 
and loud shouts ; and at last ran right away, 
leaving me uninjured. 

"The courage which I had shown was 
observed by the king's chief minister, Kama- 
pala, who was looking on from one of the 
towers of the palace ; and he sent for me, and 
said: 'You seem to be a very strong, brave 
man. I did not think that elephant could have 
been so cowed by any one. It is a pity 
that such qualities should not be better 
employed. Are you willing, if you are 
pardoned, to forsake your evil ways, and 
lead an honest life ? If you w T ill give me 
a promise to this effect, I will take you 
into my service/ 

" I gladly gave the promise which he 
required ; and he obtained my pardon, and 
became my protector and master ; and I 



HINDOO TALES. I95 

have served him faithfully ever since. After 
some years, seeing my devotion to him, he 
placed great confidence in me, and one day 
told me his own history. 

" ' There was/ said he, ' formerly at Push- 
papuri a very learned and pious man, named 
Dharmapala, one of the king's ministers. His 
eldest son was like him ; but I, the youngest, 
was of a very different disposition. I had 
no inclination for work or study; but 
thought only of amusement, and spent my 
time among gamblers and disreputable cha- 
racters. My father and brother did all they 
could to restrain me ; but, impatient of their 
control, I left my home and friends, and 
wandered about the world. One day I 
came to this city, Benares, and not long 
after my arrival, I made acquaintance with 
the king's daughter, who, with her female 



196 HINDOO TALES. 

friends, was playing at ball in a park out- 
side the town. We fell in love with each 
other ; and I contrived, by disguising myself 
as a woman, to enter her private apartments 
and to have many secret meetings with 
her ; the result of which was the birth of a 
child. 

" ' The devoted attendants kept the whole 
affair secret, removed the infant as soon as it 
was born, and telling the mother it was dead, 
gave it to a savari woman, who carried it to 
the public cemetery and left it there. 

" ' As she was returning, she was stopped 
by the watchmen, and in her fright told them 
what she had done. Information was given 
to the king, and further inquiry being made, 
my offence was discovered, and one night 
I was arrested, while quietly sleeping un- 
suspicious of danger. Being condemned to 



HINDOO TALES. 197 

death, I was led to execution outside the city. 
By a fortunate chance I got my hands free, 
and snatching the sword from the executioner, 
laid about me so vigorously that all the men 
fell back, and I made my escape to the forest. 
There I wandered about for some time, sub- 
sisting on wild fruits and roots, and sleeping 
in the trees. 

" ' While living this precarious life, I was 
one day astonished at meeting a young lady, 
with many female attendants. She addressed 
me by my name, and desired me to sit down 
with her, under a large tree. 

" ' When, with much surprise, I asked who 
she was, and how she came to be in that wild 
forest, with such a retinue, and why I was so 
favoured by her, she told me the reason of her 
coming, saying : My name is Taravali. I am 
the daughter of a chief Yaksha* A short 



198 HINDOO TALES. 

time ago I went to visit a friend, living on 
the Malaya Mountains, and while flying 
through the air on my return, as I passed 
over the cemetery of Benares, I heard the cry 
of a child. 

"'Moved with compassion, I alighted on the 
ground, took it up and carried it to my father. 
He took it to our master, the god Kuvera, 
who sent for me, and asked, ""What induced 
you to bring this child ?" "A strong feeling 
of compassion," I answered, as if it had been 
my own. 

" ' You are right/ he replied ; ' there is good 
reason for w T hat you have done ;' and he 
showed me how, in a former existence, when 
you w T ere Sudraka and I Aryadasi, the child, 
now born of the Princess Kantimati, was 
ours ; therefore, I am really your wife, and 
it was indeed a maternal instinct w^hich 



HINDOO TALES. 1 99 

prompted me to save the infant. Kuvera, 
however, would not allow me to keep the boy, 
but ordered me to take him to the Queen 
Vasumati, that he might be brought up to- 
gether with her son, who will one day become 
a great monarch. 

" Having performed the command of the 
god, I am permitted by him to find you out, 
and relieve you from your present dis- 
tress. " 

"So saying, she embraced me, and after- 
wards took me to a fairy palace in the forest, 
furnished with all comforts and luxuries, 
where I passed some time with her in great 
happiness. 

" One day, w T hen she was expressing her 
great love for me, I said : ' I have a strong 
desire to take some vengeance on the king 
who would have put me to death.' Upon 



200 HINDOO TALES. 

which, with a smile, she said, i Ah ! you wish 
to see Kantimati; I am not jealous, I will 
take you to her/ 

" Then lifting me up, she bore me through 
the air to the palace, and without disturbing 
the guards, placed me at the bedside of the 
king. 

" Grasping a sword lying near him, I 
awakened him, and said : ' I am your son-in- 
law ; I took your daughter without your con- 
sent, and am now come to make submission 
and atone for my fault/ 

" Seeing- the drawn sword held over him 
he was much alarmed, and said : ' I must have 
been mad to act as I did and reject such a 
son-in-law ; I will now acknowledge you, and 
you shall duly marry my daughter/ 

"He kept his word, the next day announced 
the intended marriage to all the court, and 



HINDOO TALES. 



shortly afterwards publicly gave me his 
daughter. 

" Taravali remained with me, became 
great friends with her fellow- wife, told her the 
story w T hich she had related to me, and how 
her son had been preserved and was taken 
care of by Queen Vasumati. 

"Thus I have for some years lived happily, 
holding, as you know, a very important office." 

[End of the story of Kamapala as told to 
his servant.] 



" Some time after this, the death of the old 
king occurred, and as the eldest son had died 
during his father s lifetime, of consumption 
brought on by dissipation and debauchery; 
my master, together w 7 ith the other ministers, 
placed Sinhaghosha, a boy about five years 



202 HINDOO TALES. 



old, on the throne, and had him carefully 
educated. 

"As the young king grew older, he was 
surrounded by companions nearer his own 
age, and they not liking the restraint put 
upon them by the wise and prudent Kama- 
pala, endeavoured secretly to excite a preju- 
dice against him, saying, ' This fellow, who 
sets himself up to be so wise and virtuous, 
is a wicked wretch, who first seduced the 
princess, and then, having escaped the death 
he so well deserved, managed to get to the 
bedside of the sleeping king, and to frighten 
him into compliance with his demands. This 
Kamapala intends to make himself king ; he 
poisoned your eldest brother, and only spared 
you in order to obtain the support of the 
people, knowing that the real power would 
remain in his own hands. Depend on it you 



HINDOO TALES. 203 

will not be suffered to live when you are old 
enough to shake off his authority. If you wish 
to be safe you should get rid of him at once/ 

" With these, and other similar speeches, 
they so prejudiced the young king against his 
guardian and minister, that he would gladly 
have got rid of him at once, but was deterred 
by fear of the power of his Yaksha wife. 

" One day the queen, seeing the Princess 
Kantimati very sad, asked her the reason of 
her sadness, saying, ' Tell me the truth ; you 
cannot deceive me; what is the cause of this 
depression?' i Did I ever deceive you?' she 
answered ; ' my friend and fellow-wife, Tara- 
vali, has taken offence at something done or 
said by our husband, and though we tried to 
soothe her, she went away, and has not re- 
turned ; this is the cause of my distress/ 

"The queen hearing this, immediately told 



204 HINDOO TALES. 



her husband, ' Kamapala has quarrelled with 
his fairy wife, and she has left him. There 
is nothing now to prevent your proceeding 
against him as you please/ 

" Sinhaghosha, longing to be freed from 
restraint, caused his minister to be arrested, 
when he came the next day to the palace, as 
usual, unsuspicious of danger. This very 
day he will be led round the city, be pro- 
claimed a traitor, and have his eyes put out. 

" I, having lost my only friend and pro- 
tector, have no wish to live, and was 
fastening my sash to hang myself, when you 
interrupted me." 

When Purnabhadra had finished this story, 
I said to him, "I am that child who was 
exposed in the cemetery, and saved by the 
fairy. My coming here is indeed opportune, 
and with your assistance I will engage to 



HINDOO TALES. 205 

deliver my father. I would boldly attack the 
guards as they lead him round the city, but 
fear, lest in the confusion he might be killed, 
when all my exertions would have been in 
vain ; some other plan must therefore be 
thought of." 

While I was thus speaking to him a serpent 
put out his head from a hole near me, and, 
knowing how to charm serpents, I made it 
come forth, and secured it. 

Then I said to Purnabhadra : " O friend, 
this is just what I wanted. I will mix with 
the crowd when my father is led round, let 
this serpent fall on him as if by chance, and 
then run up to him and say that I am skilled in 
charms, and can save his life. No doubt they 
will allow me to try, and I will stop the effect 
of the poison in such a manner that he will 
not die, and yet remain insensible, as if dead. 



206 HINDOO TALES. 

Meanwhile, do you go to my mother, ask to see 
her in private, and tell her that the son whom 
she had lost is now here. Explain to her my 
plan for saving my father, and say that when 
she hears of the death of her husband, she must 
go to the king as if in the greatest grief, and 
ask for permission to burn herself together 
with the dead body. When this request is 
granted, as no doubt it will be, she must 
prepare the funeral pile, and make ready for 
self-immolation, laying the apparently dead 
body on a couch in a private room till I 
come, when I will tell her what is further 
to be done/' 

Purnabhadra, delighted with the plan 
which I proposed, no longer wished to destroy 
himself. He set out at once to do as I had 
directed him, and I went immediately into 
the city. There I saw great crowds already 



HINDOO TALES. 207 

collected, and ascertained where the execu- 
tioner would stand when the proclamation 
was made. 

Overhanging the place, there happened to 
be a large tree, with thick foliage. Into this 
I climbed, and waited patiently, listening to 
the talk of the people collected underneath. 

Presently the executioner and his men 
came, bringing the prisoner, and the pro- 
clamation was made three times. 

" Know all men that this traitor, Kama- 
pala, has not only poisoned the late king and 
his eldest son, but has been convicted of 
plotting against the life of his present 
majesty ; he endeavoured to persuade two of 
the king's faithful attendants to administer 
poison, but they have given information, and 
his life is justly forfeited ; the king, however, 



2o8 HINDOO TALES. 



in consideration of his being a brahman, and 
nearly connected with himself, has spared his 
life, and only sentenced him to have his eyes 
put out. Let all evil-doers take warning by 
his punishment/' 

While this proclamation was being read, I 
climbed to a branch of the tree just over my 
father, and dropped on him the poisonous 
serpent, which immediately bit him. In the 
confusion which ensued, I slipped down from 
the tree, and, having mixed w T ith the crowd, 
managed, while shouting out "This is a just 
punishment from heaven ; so may all traitors 
perish," to get close to my father, and quickly 
applied a charm in such a manner that, though 
he fell down apparently dead, the effect of the 
poison was stopped. The executioner being 
also bitten ; and his assistants, as well as the 



HINDOO TALES. 209 



crowd of spectators, being alarmed and dis- 
persed from dread of the poisonous serpent ; 
this act of mine was not noticed. 

Meanwhile, my mother, who had been 
prepared by Purnabhadra to hear of her 
husband's death, went immediately to the king, 
attended by a large number of friends, and 
said : " The gods know if my husband was 
your enemy or not ; I will not now attempt 
to defend him ; but, whether he was innocent 
or guilty, your anger should cease now he is 
dead. I pray you to allow me to burn his 
body, and according to the custom of widows 
of my rank, to ascend the funeral pile together 
with him. Were I not to perform this duty, 
disgrace would fall on you and on the whole 
family, as well as on myself." 

The king, well pleased to have got rid of 
the obnoxious minister, without incurring the 

P 



HINDOO TALES. 



sin of killing him, exclaimed : " This death is 
indeed the act of fate!" And, immediately 
granting her request, permitted the body of 
Kamapala to be taken to his own house, 
where I had by that time arrived, and was 
ready to receive it. 

Meanwhile, my mother prepared for death, 
and, resisting all the entreaties of her friends 
and servants, expressed her determination to 
be burnt together with her husband. 

When everything for the funeral was 
arranged, she came into the private room, 
where the body had been laid, and there saw 
her husband fully recovered, and me sitting 
by him. Great was her delight and astonish- 
ment at this wonderful and sudden change; 
and having first embraced her husband, she 
threw her arms round me, and, with a voice 
broken by sobs of joy, said : " O, my darling 



HINDOO TALES. 



son, how can I deserve such happiness ? — I, 
who so cruelly abandoned you at your birth, 
and suffered you to be taken aw T ay, as if dead r 
but your father was not to blame for that ; he, 
indeed, deserves to have been restored to life 
by you, and to have the happiness of seeing 
you. Cruel, indeed, was Taravali, who, when 
she had received you again from Kuvera, did 
not bring you at once to me ; but what could 
I expect from her r It is through her unkincl- 
ness in leaving us that all this misfortune has 
happened ; but I must not complain ; I was 
not worthy, without previous suffering, to 
enjoy such great happiness. Come and 
embrace me," 

Saying this, she again threw her arms 
round me, and kissed me repeatedly, trembling 
with emotion, and shedding many tears of 
joy. 



HINDOO TALES. 



My fathers feelings were scarcely less 
excited. He seemed to have risen from the 
lowest depth of misery to the summit of 
felicity, and esteemed himself more fortunate 
than even Indra the King of the Gods. 

When we were all somewhat calmed, and I 
had explained to my father all that had 
occurred, I said: "There is much yet to be 
done ; the king will soon find out the decep- 
tion which has been practised, and send to 
arrest you again ; so we must consider how 
we can defend ourselves/' 

My father answered : "This house is a very 
large one; the walls are strong; there are 
many secret passages ; I have a great store 
of weapons ; my servants are brave and faith- 
ful, so that we could hold out for several days. 
Besides this I have many friends in the city ; 
most of the authorities will favour me ; many 



HINDOO TALES. 213 

of the soldiers will be on my side, and there 
are many persons discontented and ready to 
rebel against the king. Therefore, if we act 
prudently, we shall have much assistance, and 
be able to cut off that tyrant. " 

With this I entirely agreed, and we prepared 
for defence. As I had expected, the king, find- 
ing how he had been deceived, sent soldiers 
to take us ; but, though they made many at- 
tempts, we drove them back day after day, 
with very small loss to ourselves. 

Meanwhile, fearing lest we should at last 
be overpowered, if something more were not 
done, I determined, if possible, to seize the 
person of the king ; and, as my father's house 
was not far from the palace, I began to make 
an underground passage inside, in order to 
reach his sleeping-room, the exact position of 
which I had learnt from my father. 



214 HINDOO TALES. 

After digging for some distance, I came, to 
my great astonishment, into a large, lofty, 
well-lighted room, occupied by a number of 
women, among whom was a young lady of 
surpassing beauty, resembling the wife of 
Kama, or the tutelary goddess of the city, 
who had hidden herself here to avoid the sight 
of so much wickedness above. 

The women were equally astonished at 
seeing me, and ran away, alarmed, into other 
adjoining rooms. One old woman, however, 
remained behind, and, falling at my feet, said: 
" Have pity on us poor helpless women ; 
surely thou art a god, for no mortal could have 
thus found his w r ay hither. O tell us why 
thou art come." 

"Calm yourself/' I answered, "You have 
nothing to fear from me. I am Arthapala, 
the son of the minister Kamapala and the 



HINDOO TALES. 215 

Princess Kantimati, and have come thus un- 
expectedly on you while making an under- 
ground passage from my father's house to the 
palace ; but tell me who you all are, and how 
you come to be living here." 

" O prince/' she answered, " I had heard of 
your birth, but not of your preservation, and 
happy am I now to see you. Know that the 
young lady whom you have just seen is the 
granddaughter of your maternal grandfather, 
Chandasinha. The eldest son of that king 
died before his father, leaving his wife preg- 
nant, and she lost her life in giving birth to 
this daughter, who was committed to my 
care. One day the king sent for me, and 
said : ' I intend this child when grown up to 
be given in marriage to Darpasara, son of the 
King of Malwa ; and, remembering the mis- 
conduct of her aunt, I am determined that 



21 6 HINDOO TALES. 

nothing of the kind shall happen with her. I 
have therefore caused a spacious palace to be 
made underground, and have furnished it 
with provisions and all other necessaries for 
even a hundred years. I have great confidence 
in you ; you will therefore go down into this 
subterranean dwelling, taking with you the 
princess and such attendants as you may 
think desirable, and will remain there until 
she is grown up, when I shall fetch you from 
below, and give her in marriage as I have 
intended/ So saying, he lifted up a small 
trap-door in the court-yard close to his own 
apartment, and showed me the steps leading 
to this place. The next day we all came down, 
and have remained here ever since. Twelve 
years have now passed, and the king seems to 
have forgotten us. I must tell you also that 
the princess, though destined by her grand- 



HINDOO TALES. 217 

father for Darpasara, was originally intended 
for you ; for her mother, while the child was 
as yet unborn, promised that her daughter 
should become the wife of the son of Kanti- 
mati if he should ever return. Look on her, 
therefore, as your intended, and do what is 
best for us." 

Having received this account from the old 
woman, I told her to have no fear on the 
princess's account, but to trust entirely in me, 
and that I would soon liberate them from 
their long and tedious imprisonment. 

She then took a lamp and showed me the 
steps leading to the trap-door, which I forced 
open, and soon found my way into the king's 
bed-room. There, before he was sufficiently 
awake to call for help, I seized, gagged, and 
bound him, and dragging him along, as an ich- 
neumon drags a serpent, past the astonished 



2l8 HINDOO TALES. 

women and through the tunnel which I had 
made, I brought him, trembling with fear and 
bowed down by shame, to my father's house, 
and showed him to my parents, telling them 
how I had captured him, and how I had dis- 
covered the princess in the subterranean 
palace. 

When the seizure of the king was known, 
those who were previously well-disposed to 
my father immediately joined us, and all op- 
position ceased. 

Soon afterwards I married the princess, 
who looked on me as her deliverer from the 
dungeon ; Sinhaghosha was deposed ; and 
I, having a double claim to the throne, was 
acknowledged king in his stead. 

Hearing that the King of Anga, a devoted 
friend of your father, was at war, and attacked 
by a strong enemy, we have marched hither 



HINDOO TALES. 219 

with an army to his assistance, and I have 
had the pleasure of helping to deliver him 
from his enemies, and the still greater happi- 
ness of meeting with you. I now beg of you 
to decide what shall be done with the deposed 
king, our prisoner, whom we have brought 
with us. My mother is very anxious to libe- 
rate him, but hitherto it has not been thought 
safe to do so. 

The prince answered : " Let that unworthy 
young man be freed, on condition of giving 
up all claim to the throne and leading a pri- 
vate life ; and let him devote himself to pious 
meditation, w T hich is the purifier of evil deeds." 
Then turning with a kind look to Pramati, 
he said : " Do you now relate your adven- 
tures," with which request he at once com- 
plied : — 



ADVENTURES OF PRAMATI. 

TV IX Y LORD, while wandering like the rest 
of your friends in search of you, I found 
myself one evening in a large forest, far from 
any habitation. Thinking it useless to at- 
tempt to go further in an unknown country 
and in darkness, I prepared to sleep there. 
Having bathed in the water of a small lake, 
and made myself a bed of leaves, I lay down 
under a large tree, commending myself to the 
deities presiding over the place, and was very 
soon asleep. 

Presently a strange and delightful feeling 
came over me, gladdening my inmost soul ; 
and I awoke, hardly knowing whether what I 



HINDOO TALES. 22 1 

saw was a reality or a dream, for on looking 
round me I saw that I was no longer in the 
forest, but in a very large and lofty room, 
lying on a soft couch with white muslin cur- 
tains ; all around me were a number of sleep- 
ing women. Among them my eyes were 
especially attracted towards a young lady of 
exceeding beauty, lying in a very graceful 
attitude, covered only by a silken petticoat, 
her bosom slowly rising and falling, and her 
bud-like lower lip quivering with the soft 
movement of the breath in quiet sleep. 

Lost in astonishment, I said to myself: 
" What has become of that great forest wrapt 
in darkness r How is my bed of leaves ex- 
changed for this soft couch P Whence is this 
dome above me, lofty as the great temple of 
Siva ? Who are all these lovely women, like a 
troop of Apsaras lying down wearied with 



222 HINDOO TALES. 



play ? And who can this beautiful lady be ? 
She cannot be a goddess, for the gods do 
not sleep thus, nor do they perspire, and I 
see the drops breaking forth on her forehead. 
She must then be a mortal ; but O how 
lovely ! how peacefully she sleeps, as if she 
had never known the anxieties of love ! My 
heart is drawn towards her." 

With these thoughts I rose up and ap- 
proached the bed where she lay, and stood 
looking at her as if entranced, becoming every 
moment more enamoured, longing to touch 
her, but held back by the fear of disturbing 
her. 

While I was thus gazing, she gradually 
awoke, and, raising herself into a sitting pos- 
ture, looked at me attentively with eyes more 
than half closed. At first her lips were opened, 
as if she were about to cry out ; but, apparently 






HINDOO TALES. 223 

restrained by some secret power, she remained 
silent, trembling all over, and showing in her 
countenance the signs of mingled doubt, fear, 
astonishment, bashfulness, and love ; till at 
last, overcome again by sleep, she slowly 
sank down again on the bed. 

Almost at the same time I felt myself irre- 
sistibly overcome by drowsiness, and was very 
soon fast asleep. 

When I awoke, I found myself on the bed of 
leaves once more, alone in the gloomy forest, 
and day was beginning to appear. 

When I was quite awake I had some diffi- 
culty in collecting my thoughts, and I said to 
myself : " Can all this of which I have such a 
vivid impression be other than a reality, or 
was it only a dream, a magical delusion ? 
Whatever it may be, I w T ill not quit this 
place till I find out the truth, and I will place 



224 HINDOO TALES. 

myself under the protection of the deity who 
sent the vision." 

Having formed this resolution, I was 
waiting where I had slept, when I saw 
approaching me a female form faded like a 
flower scorched by the sun, with eyes red 
from weeping, lips parched by the hot breath 
of sighs, wearing a scanty black dress, with- 
out ornaments, and with her hair in a single 
braid, like an affectionate wife mourning 
for the absence of her husband ;* and with 
all this having an air of divine dignity, 
which made me regard her with reverence, 
and think that she might be the tutelary 
goddess of the place, to whom I had com- 
mended myself; and I prostrated myself 
before her. But she raised me up with 

* Hindoo women, when absent from their husbands, always 
wear, or used to wear, their hair done up into a single braid. 



HINDOO TALES. 225 

her arms, and after kissing me again and 
again, said, with a voice broken by tears 
and sobs, " O, my darling, surely you have 
heard from the Queen Vasumati how one 
night a fairy appeared to her, and placing 
the child Arthapala* in her arms, told her 
husband's name and her own ; and how the 
child was brought by order of Kuvera ; and 
then disappeared. I am that fairy — your 
mother. Bewildered by unreasonable jealousy 
and anger, I abandoned my husband, your 
father, Kamapala ; and for that sin I was 
cursed by Durga, who condemned me to be 
possessed by an evil spirit for a year. That 
year, which seemed to me like a thousand 

* The author has here made a mistake which cannot be 
explained. In the introductory chapter Pramati is the son of 
Sumati, and there is nowhere mention of a second son of 
Kamapala. The confusion of names is, however, of little 
importance, since the adventures of Arthapala and Pramati are 
quite distinct. 

Q 



226 HINDOO TALES. 

years, is ended ; and I am now come from 
the great festival of Siva, where I have met 
my relations, who had assembled there, and 
have received full pardon from the goddess. 

" In my way thither, I passed by this 
place, saw you about to lie down, and heard 
your prayer to the local deity. 

" Being still partly under the influence of 
the curse, I did not recognise you as my 
son. Yet even as a stranger I felt an in- 
terest in you, and could not bear the thought 
of leaving you exposed to danger in such 
a wild place. I therefore w r aited till you 
were fast asleep ; and having considered 
where I could deposit you while I was gone 
to meet the goddess, since I could not take 
you with me, it occurred to me to carry 
you to the palace of the King of Sravasti, 
and leave you to sleep there till my return. 



HINDOO TALES. 227 

I therefore carried you through the air, and 
placed you in the sleeping apartment of the 
Princess Navamalika, feeling sure that no one 
would disturb you there. I then went to 
the temple ; and after paying due worship 
to Siva, and receiving the congratulations 
of my assembled friends, I was dismissed 
by the goddess, who said: 'You are for- 
given ; the curse is ended ; go and be 
happy with your husband/ After which I 
returned to the palace ; and taking you up, 
brought you to this place, and laid you, 
still sleeping, on your bed of leaves. Since 
then, I have been watching for your awak- 
ing ; for as soon as the curse was removed, 
I knew you to be my son. 

"I must now leave you, and go to your 
father. I know what passed in the palace ; 
how you have fallen in love with the princess, 



22S HINDOO TALES. 



and her feelings towards you. Do not 
despond; before long you will see her again." 

She then warmly embraced me ; and say- 
ing : " I go with reluctance, farewell for the 
present/' she departed. 

Having thus found the supposed dream 
to be a reality, and that the lady whom I 
had seen was the Princess Navamalika, I 
was confirmed in my love, and set out for 
Sravasti, determined, if possible, to see her 
again. 

On the road, I came to a village where 
there was a large fair and a great concourse 
of traders. Various amusements were going 
on; among others, a cock-fight, w 7 hich I 
stopped to look at, and sat down near an 
old brahman, who was watching the fight 
with great interest. On seeing me smile, 
he asked the reason ; and I answered : "What 



HINDOO TALES. 229 

simpletons some of the breeders here must 
be to pit a Balaka cock against one of the 
Narikela breed, which is sure to win." 

With a knowing look, he whispered to 
me : " Hush ! these blockheads know no 
better. I see you are a sharp fellow ; sit 
quiet and say nothing." Then he offered 
me betel and pawn from his box ; and we 
got into conversation. 

Meanwhile, the birds fought furiously ; and 
there was much vociferation on both sides ; 
but, as I had predicted, the Balaka cock 
was beaten. The old man was delighted 
at the victory of the other, which was his 
own. He seemed to have taken a great 
liking to me, though our ages were so dif- 
ferent, and invited me to his house, where I 
was very hospitably treated, and passed the 
night. 



230 HINDOO TALES. 



The next morning he accompanied me 
some distance on the way to Sravasti ; and 
said, at parting : " Remember, I am your 
friend ; do not hesitate to apply to me if 
there is anything in which I can help you/' 

After he had left me, I continued my 
journey ; and arriving late and very tired at 
Sravasti, I lay down to sleep in an arbour 
in one part of the park outside the city. 
There I slept soundly till awakened by the 
noise of the swans and other birds in a lake 
not far off. 

Soon after I had risen, I heard the tink- 
ling of anklets, and saw a young lady walk- 
ing towards me, with a painted canvas in 
her hand. "When she came near, she looked 
first at me, and then at the painting. This 
she did several times, and was evidently 
surprised and pleased at the comparison 



HINDOO TALES. 



On casting an eye on the picture, I also 
was much surprised, finding it to be a 
portrait of myself. 

Feeling sure that the likeness could not 
be accidental, and that there must be some 
reason for her making the comparison and 
seeming so pleased at the result, I would 
not at first make any inquiry of her, but 
merely said : " This is a public place ; we 
need not stand on ceremony ; pray sit 
down with me." This she did ; and we 
got into conversation about the news of 
the town. 

At last she said to me : " You seem to be 
quite a stranger here, and look as if you 
were travel-tired. "Will you be offended if 
I ask you to come and rest at my house ?' J 

"Offended!" I answered. "You do me 
a very great favour ; I shall be most de- 



232 HINDOO TALES. 

lighted to accept your invitation/' Upon 
this, she rose, and I followed her to her 
house, where I was most kindly entertained. 

When I was refreshed with bathing and 
food, she said to me: "You have been 
travelling about in various countries. Have 
you, in your travels, met with any very ex- 
traordinary adventure ?" 

On hearing this question, I thought : " I 
have now good ground for hope. The picture 
represents that very room which I saw, with 
its lofty ceiling and white canopies — even 
the bed where the princess was lying. In- 
stigated by love, she has doubtless painted 
my portrait from recollection; and, in the 
hope that I may be discovered through the 
likeness, has entrusted it to this lady who 
has now invited me to her house. She 
evidently thinks that I am the person ; 



HINDOO TALES. 



but hesitates to put a direct question 
to me. If I am right, I will soon remove 
her doubt." 

I asked her, therefore : u Will you allow 
me to examine that picture ¥' She put it 
into my hand ; and I drew on it the princess 
lying as I had seen her ; and giving it 
back, said : " One night, while sleeping in 
a forest, I had a very wonderful dream. I 
found myself lying in just such a room as 
that which is represented in this painting ; 
and saw there a very beautiful young lady, 
such as I have painted here ; could that 
have been anything more than a dream V 

When she heard this, her face lighted up, 
and she answered: "That was no dream, 
but a reality ; and you are indeed the person 
I was looking for." Then she told me the 
whole story ; how the princess had seen and 



234 HINDOO TALES. 

fallen in love with me ; and how she had 
painted that picture and given it to her 
friend, that it might be the means of dis- 
covering me ; and how delighted she would 
now be to hear that I was found at last. 

I begged her to assure the princess that 
I was even more anxious to see her, and 
had come to Sravasti solely from the hope 
of finding her. 

" If your friend is disposed to favour me/' 
I continued, " beg her to wait patiently a few 
days ; I will arrange a plan which will enable 
us to be together in her apartments, without 
danger to either of us." To this she agreed, 
and having taken leave of her, I went back 
to the village where the old brahman lived, 
whom I had met at the cock-fight. I found 
him at home, and delighted to see me. After I 
was rested and refreshed, he asked me, 



HINDOO TALES. 235 

" What has brought you back so soon ? is 
there anything in which you require my as- 
sistance ?" 

" There is," I answered, " a very important 
affair, in which you can materially assist 
me. The King of the Sravastans, Dharma- 
vardhana,* whose character corresponds with 
his name, has a very beautiful daughter. By 
an extraordinary chance, I have seen and 
fallen in love with her. I have reason to 
believe that she was equally struck by me, 
but know not how to contrive a meeting 
between us without your help ; will you there- 
fore assist me ?" 

" What is your plan ? ,J he asked, " and how 
can I be of service in carrying it out ?" 

" My plan is this," I replied. " I will dress 
as a woman, and pass for your daughter ; and 

* Increaser of virtue. 



236 HINDOO TALES. 

you are so clever and ready-witted, that I 
think you will be able to get me into the 
palace as a companion to the princess, and 
even to manage so that she shall become 
my wife." Then I told him how I thought 
this might be accomplished ; and he quite 
approved of what I proposed, entered into 
it with great spirit, and promised his ready 
co-operation. 

Accordingly, the first day that the king was 
sitting in public to administer justice, the old 
man approached, followed by me dressed as 
a woman, walking modestly behind him, and 
bowing down to the king, he said : " My lord, 
I have heard of your great beneficence, and 
how you are the father of all your subjects, 
the protector and friend of the helpless ; I am 
therefore come to ask a great favour. This 
girl is my only daughter. Her mother died 



HINDOO TALES. 237 

soon after her birth. I have brought her up, 
and she has never left me ; but I am desirous 
now to be relieved of this charge and to see 
her well married. A long time ago, she was 
engaged to a young brahman, who went to 
Oujein, to study there, and acquire the means 
of supporting a wife and family. I have been 
expecting his return for some time, but have 
heard nothing of him ; I am, therefore, very 
uneasy on my daughter s account, and pur- 
pose to go to Oujein, and find out whether he 
is alive or dead. I cannot leave my daughter 
alone, and have no friend or near relation 
with whom I can place her. Will your 
majesty deign to allow her to remain under 
your protection until my return V 

To this the king graciously assented, and 
I was received into the palace, where I soon 
found means of letting the princess know 



238 HINDOO TALES. 



of my disguise, and was taken into her apart- 
ments as one of her immediate attendants. 

Thus our wishes were gratified, and we 
enjoyed uninterrupted intercourse with each 
other. But more w r as yet to be done, and 
when the time was nearly arrived at which 
it had been arranged between me and the old 
brahman that he was to come to fetch me, 
I said to my darling : " To-morrow, as you 
know, there will be a procession to a certain 
holy place near the river; you and your 
attendants will join in it and have an 
opportunity of bathing there. While we are in 
the water, I will scream out, as if drowning, 
and, diving underneath the surface, will come 
up among the bushes a long way off, without 
being seen. Do you appear greatly distressed 
at my death ; but fear nothing, I shall soon 
come to you again." 



HINDOO TALES. 239 

Accordingly, the next day, while bathing in 
the Ganges, I made it appear as if I were 
accidentally carried out of my depth and 
drawn in by one of the eddies of the river, 
and screamed out loudly for help. My cries 
and screams and subsequent disappearance 
caused a great commotion, and long search 
was made for my body ; but of course in vain, 
for I had dived under, and come to the sur- 
face unobserved among the thick bushes at 
the place which had been agreed upon. There, 
having gone on shore, I soon found the old 
brahman, who was waiting for me with a 
suit of men's clothes, and, putting them on, I 
walked quietly with him into the town. 

The next day, as if he had heard nothing 
of the loss of his pretended daughter, he went 
to the king, accompanied by me, and said : 
" My lord, I have returned from Oujein, and 



240 HINDOO TALES. 

have brought with me this young man, 
the intended husband of my daughter, with 
whom I am much pleased, and whom I can 
confidently recommend to your favour, for 
I have heard an exceedingly good report of 
him there. He is not only very learned in 
the vedas and commentaries, advanced in 
science and arts, well instructed in politics 
and history, clever in reciting stories and 
poetry, but is a bold and skilful rider, a good 
archer and swordsman. There is scarcely 
anything that a young man should know, with 
which he is not familiar ; and, with all this, he 
is free from conceit, good-tempered, gentle, 
and kind ; in short, he seems to me almost 
perfect, and more fit to marry a princess than 
the daughter of such a man as I am. When 
I have seen my child happily married to him, 
I shall not trouble them with my society, but 



HINDOO TALES. 241 



withdraw from the world, and end my days in 
a hermitage. I have now come to take back 
my daughter, with the most humble and 
heartfelt gratitude for the gracious protection 
which you have so kindly afforded her." With 
these words he bowed himself to the ground 
in humble obeisance. 

On hearing this the king was greatly per- 
plexed, and obliged to admit that the girl had 
been drowned while bathing, and that her 
body had not been found. 

Then the old man began to tear his hair, 
beat his breast, and show signs of the most 
extravagant grief, calling on the king to 
restore his dear daughter, and reproaching 
him with having caused her death. In vain 
did the king make him large offers of com- 
pensation ; he refused them all, declaring it 
to be his firm intention to put himself to 

R 



242 HINDOO TALES. 

death at the gate of the palace, and so cause 
the sin to fall on the king's head.* 

He, despairing of finding any other way 
of appeasing the old man, after some con- 
sideration and consultation with his ministers, 
said to him : " You have told me that your 
intended son-in-law is a young man of rare 
abilities, and more fit to be the husband of a 
princess than of your daughter, and his ap- 
pearance is very prepossessing ; I offer him 
then my daughter in the place of yours. Will 
this satisfy you?" Then at last the old man 
professed to be contented ; I was treated with 
much honour, in due time became the hus- 
band of the princess, and reached the summit 
of my wishes. 

After a time, an army was sent by my 

* It was considered a very great sin to be, even indirectly, the 
cause of the death of a brahman. 



HINDOO TALES. 243 

father-in-law to the assistance of the King of 
Anga, and, thinking of the possibility of meet- 
ing you here, I solicited and obtained the 
command of it, and my hopes have been 
fulfilled, since I have now the great pleasure 
of seeing you. 

Having heard this story, the prince re- 
marked : " You have done no deeds of blood, 
but have gained your ends by gentleness and 
ingenuity. This is the way approved of by the 
wise." Then turning to Mitragupta, he said : 
" It is now your turn/' and he immediately 
began his story thus :— - 



ADVENTURES OF MITRAGUPTA. 

TV TY LORD, I set out on my travels in 
search of you, like the rest, and 
arriving one day at Damalipta, I saw a great 
crowd collected in a large park outside the 
city. While looking about me to find some 
one of whom I might inquire what this 
festival was, I espied a young man, sitting 
alone in an arbour, amusing himself with 
playing on a lute. Going up to him, I asked : 
" What is this concourse of people ? Why do 
you sit here alone, away from the others i" 

He answered : " A long time ago, the king 
of this country, having no children, made 
many prayers and offerings to the goddess 



HINDOO TALES. 245 

Durga, in the hope of propitiating her. At 
last she appeared to him in a dream, and 
said : ' Your prayer is granted ; your wife 
shall bear twins — a daughter who must be 
your successor, and a son w T ho must be sub- 
ject to her and to her husband when she 
marries. Further, it is my will and pleasure 
that, beginning from her seventh year, }-ou 
shall make, even' month when the moon is in 
the constellation Krittika ( or the Pleiades', a 
great festival, to be called the Festival of the 
Ball Dance, at which she shall publicly ex- 
hibit her skill before the people. I also will, 
that in reference to a husband, she shall have 
free choice without any pressure on your part, 
and that he whom she marries shall have 
equal power with her, and reign after your 
death/ 

" The promise given in the dream was ful- 



246 HINDOO TALES. 

filled. The queen bore twins — a son and a 
daughter. The king has duly obeyed the 
commands of the goddess, and to-day the 
princess, whose name is Kandukavati, will 
again perform the ball dance for the propitia- 
tion of Durga in the sight of the people here 
assembled. 

" You asked me also why I am sitting here 
alone. I will tell you. The Princess Kandu- 
kavati has a dear friend and foster-sister, who 
is engaged to me. 

" Of late, Bhimadhanwa, the brother of the 
princess, has cast his eyes on her, and perse- 
cuted her with his importunities. Knowing 
his character, I have great fear lest some day 
he should use violence towards her. This is 
why I am so anxious and uneasy, and have 
no inclination to join in the festivities/' 

Just then I heard the tinkling of anklets, 



HINDOO TALES. 247 

and a young lady came to the place where we 
were sitting. 

On seeing her, my companion started up 
with great delight, and, taking her by the 
hand, introduced her to me, saying : " This is 
the lady whom I have told you of, dearer to 
me than life, the thought of separation from 
whom, through the wickedness of that wretch, 
burns me like fire, and causes me to suffer 
misery greater than death. I have no loyalty 
or respect towards him, and will lose my life 
rather than suffer him to accomplish his 
wicked purpose." 

But she, with tears in her eyes, said : " O 
my beloved, do not on my account engage in 
any act of violence ; whatever might be the 
result, your own life would certainly be for- 
feited. You have continually professed your 
great love for me ; be guided now by my 



248 HINDOO TALES. 

advice. I am ready to follow you wherever 
you go ; let us then fly from this country, 
and go where we shall be safe from my per- 
secutor." 

My new acquaintance then turned to me, 
and said: "You seem to have been a great 
traveller ; tell us in what country we may be 
most in safety and best able to live." 

I smiled at this, and answered : " The world 
is wide, and there are plenty of countries 
pleasant to live in ; but, after all, one's own 
country is the best ; why should you banish 
yourselves ? I think I can contrive some 
means by which you will be enabled to re- 
main here in safety and comfort. Wait then a 
while, and if I cannot do this I will tell you 
where it will be best for you to go." 

Before we had time to say more, the young 
girl started up, saying: "I dare not stay a 



HINDOO TALES. 249 

moment longer. I have stopped away from 
my mistress to see you, and now I hear her 
coming, and must join her directly. Any one 
may see the princess at this festival ; I hope 
you will have a good view of her." Saying 
this to me, she ran off, and w r e both followed 
her to the place where the princess was to 
perform — an open stage which had been 
erected in the park. 

Presently she made her appearance, fol- 
lowed by a train of female attendants, and 
the moment I saw her my heart was drawn 
towards her. I almost doubted whether she 
were a goddess or a mortal ; but w T hen she 
began to play, I was even more captivated by 
her graceful movements than I had been by 
her beauty. 

First she made a low obeisance in honour 
of the goddess ; then taking up the bright 



250 HINDOO TALES. 

red ball with her slender fingers, she let it 
drop as if accidentally, and striking it as it 
rebounded, caught it on the back of her hand 
and sent it high into the air; then she made it 
rise and fall, at first slowly, then faster, and 
then very rapidly, keeping time to it by grace- 
ful movements of the feet. Sometimes it 
seemed to stand still, sometimes to fly up 
like a bird ; at one time she would strike it 
alternately with her right hand and left 
hand ; at another send it high into the air, 
dancing meanwhile to her own singing ; then 
the ball would go quite away, and come back 
as if of itself. Thus she went on a long time 
amidst the applause of the surrounding spec- 
tators, performing various graceful move- 
ments, striking the ball with feet as well as 
hands, and even making it whirl round and 
round her so rapidly that she seemed to be 



HINDOO TALES. 251 

enclosed in a fiery red cage ; now with one 
hand holding up her dress or replacing her 
hair which had fallen down, and keeping the 
ball in motion with the other ; now taking 
several balls and keeping them all in the air 
at once. 

At last the performance was ended ; and, 
after again making a low obeisance in honour 
of the goddess, she walked slowly round the 
stage, leaning on the arm of her foster-sister 
Chandrasena, and followed by her maidens, 
casting several significant glances at me, and 
especially giving me one long lingering look 
as she withdrew. 

My new friend, Kosadasa, who had stood 
near me all the time, invited me to his house, 
where I was most hospitably entertained. 

In the evening, Chandrasena, the lady to 
whom he had introduced me, came to see him. 



252 HINDOO TALES. 

I said to her : " I promised to find some 
means of freeing you from the importunities 
of the prince ; this is what I have thought of. 
I have a magic ointment, a small quantity of 
which applied to your face will make you 
look like a monkey in the eyes of all who see 
you. Your persecutor will certainly then be 
disgusted, and give you no more annoyance." 
" Truly I am exceedingly obliged to you/' 
she answered, " for such a charming proposal. 
But whatever I may be in a future birth, 
I have no inclination to be turned into a 
monkey now. If you have nothing better 
than this to propose, we shall not esteem 
your wisdom very highly. Happily, I have 
thought of something much better. You 
have heard that, according to the word of 
Durga, the princess is to be allowed free 
choice of a husband. You are greatly in 



HINDOO TALES. 253 

love with her, and she is favourably disposed 
towards you, from your appearance. My 
mother, of whom she is very fond, will do 
everything in her power to promote your 
interests ; and no doubt she will choose you. 
The king and queen will of course give their 
consent ; and the marriage once completed, 
there will be no further danger, since Bhima- 
dhanwa will be subject to you, and you will 
be able easily to protect me. Wait, there- 
fore, a few r days, and I and my mother will 
do our best on your behalf. But I must 
not stay longer ; my mistress will be wait- 
ing for me." 

After she was gone, Kosadasa and I got 
into conversation about that which so greatly 
concerned us both ; and so much interested 
were we, that we never thought of going to 
bed, but sat up talking all the night. 



254 HINDOO TALES. 

In the morning, I went to the park, and 
stood for some time near the stage on which 
I had seen the princess ; and in imagina- 
tion saw her there again, in some of those 
graceful attitudes which she had displayed. 
While I was thus deep in thought, I was 
accosted by Bhimadhanwa, who introduced 
himself to me, appeared very friendly, sat 
down with me, and, after some conversation, 
invited me to his house. 

Having no suspicion of treachery, I ac- 
companied him to the palace, where I was 
most hospitably entertained. After dinner, 
not having slept the night before, I lay down, 
and was soon fast asleep, and dreaming of 
my beloved princess. Presently, I was sud- 
denly awakened, and found my arms bound 
with an iron chain, and Bhimadhanwa, with 
angry countenance, standing near me. 



HINDOO TALES. 



"Vile wretch!" he said. "You fancied 
you could plot in safety; and little thought 
that all which that girl said was overheard, 
and brought to me by one of my spies, who 
heard it through the open window. My 
silly sister, forsooth, is in love with you ! 
You are to marry her, and make me your 
subject; and you will order me to give up 
Chandrasena, that she may marry her lover! 
You are much mistaken. I am not so easily 
managed as that. We shall soon see how 
all your fine projects will end." Then calling 
two strong men, his servants, at his com- 
mand they lifted me up, carried me down 
to the sea, and threw me in as I was. 

Notwithstanding the chain which confined 
my arms, I managed to keep afloat, till by 
a lucky chance I fell in with a piece of 
wood, and by throwing myself across it, 



256 HINDOO TALES. 



managed to hold on, and was carried out 
to sea. After floating all night, in the 
morning I was seen from a ship sailing that 
way, and taken on board. 

The captain, however, who was a foreigner, 
had not much compassion on me ; and only- 
thought, as I was young and strong, how 
much he could get by selling me as a slave ; 
and did not even release my hands. I had 
not been long on board, however, when the 
ship was attacked by pirates, who surrounded 
it with their boats, and poured in a shower 
of arrows and other missiles. 

Seeing that the crew of the merchant-ship 
were being defeated, I called out to the 
captain : " Take off my chain ; set me free ; 
and I will soon drive away the enemy." 

He did as I asked ; and furnished me with 
a good bow and arrows, which I used so 



HINDOO TALES. 257 

effectually, that a large number of the enemy 
were killed or wounded ; and the boats began 
to draw off. 

Meanwhile, our ship had drifted close to 
the pirates' galley. I leapt on board, and 
most of the crew being disabled, took 
prisoner the captain, who turned out to be 
Bhimadhanwa, the very man who had so 
treacherously ill-used me. He was utterly 
astonished at seeing me ; and hung down 
his head ashamed, unable to answer a word, 
when I said to him: " Where are all 
your threats and boastings ? You are now 
as completely in my power as I was in 
yours." 

Then the sailors, shouting for joy at the 
victorv, bound him with the chain with 
which I had been confined ; and after taking 
possession of the pirate ship, we continued 

s 



258 HINDOO TALES. 



the voyage ; but being driven out of our 
course by a contrary wind, landed on an 
uninhabited island, to get water and wild 
fruits, and attend to the wounded. 

The merchant-captain and crew, delighted 
at my bravery, and the timely assistance I 
had rendered them, treated me with the 
greatest respect. While they were engaged, 
I walked about to explore the island ; and 
came to a large quantity of stones which 
had fallen from a high rock. These I crossed 
over, and going round to the other side, 
found a gentle slope, covered with trees and 
flowers. "Walking slowly among them, ad- 
miring the beautiful scenery and enjoying" 
the cool shade, I arrived, almost imperceptibly 
and without fatigue, at the summit, where I 
found a small lake, surrounded with ruby- 
coloured, variegated rocks, and partly covered 






HINDOO TALES. 259 

with bright lotuses. In this I bathed, and 
pulled up some of the lotus-plants, the young 
shoots of which were unusually sweet and 
good. 

As I came out of the water, carrying a 
large root on my shoulder, I saw standing 
on the bank a terrible Rakshas in human 
form, who called out, in an angry tone : 
" Who are are you ? Where do you come 
from ? What are you doing here, destroying 
my flowers V 

Without showing any sign of fear, I walked 
boldly up to him, and said : " I am a 
brahman, who has just escaped many dan- 
gers. I was treacherously thrown into the 
sea, rescued by a merchant-ship, then 
attacked by pirates ; and now, after con- 
quering them, Ave have put into this island 
for water. I have much enjoyed my bathe, 
and wish you good morning/' 



260 HINDOO TALES. 

"Stop!" said he. "You will not get off 
so easily. You seem a bold fellow, however, 
and I w T ill give you a chance for life. I 
shall ask you four questions. If you can 
answer them, you are free; if not, I shall 
devour you immediately." 

" Very good," I answered ; " I am ready 
to hear them." Then he began : 

"What is cruel?" 

" A wicked woman's heart." 

"What is most to the advantage of a 
householder?" 

" Good qualities in a wife." 

"What is love?" 

" Imagination." 

"What best accomplishes difficult things ?" 

" Cunning. Dhumini, Gomini, Ratnavati, 
and Nitambavati," I added, " are examples 
of what I have said." 



HINDOO TALES. 261 

" Tell me," said he, " who they were, and 
how they prove the truth of your answers r " 

" Certainly," I replied ; " you shall judge 
for yourself. 

" There were formerly in the country of 
Trigarta three brothers, all wealthy, having 
several wives, many servants and slaves, and 
numerous flocks and herds. In their time 
it happened that there was a great drought ; 
no rain fell for several years ; the streams 
and fountains ceased to flow ; the pools 
and lakes w r ere turned to mud, the beds of 
rivers almost dry, plants burned up, trees 
withered ; all mirth and festivity were at 
an end ; bands of thieves roamed about ; 
the dead lay unburied or unburnt, and 
their bodies were scattered over the fields. 
At last the famine w T as so great that men 
began to devour each other. The three 



262 HINDOO TALES. 

brothers, from their great wealth, were able 
to hold out a long time; but when their 
stores of corn and rice were all consumed, 
and their cattle all slaughtered, they, like 
the rest, were driven to cannibalism. First 
they killed and ate their slaves ; then, even 
their wives and children, till all were gone 
but themselves and their three favourite 
wives. The famine still continuing, they were 
driven to eat them also, and drew lots which 
should be killed first. The lot fell on 
Dhumini, the wife of the youngest brother, 
who, unable to bear the thought of devour- 
ing her, escaped with her in the night. 
After walking a long way, till they were 
quite exhausted, they came to a large forest, 
where they found a well of water, and many 
fruits and roots, besides deer and other 
animals, on which they were able to live 



HINDOO TALES. 263 

without difficulty; and they built a hut 
there. 

" One day when the husband of Dhumini was 
going about in search of game, he found a 
man who had been cruelly treated by robbers ; 
they had cut off his hands, feet, and nose, and 
left him to perish. Having compassion on 
the poor wretch, he bound up his wounds as 
well as he was able, and carried him with 
much difficulty to his hut. There he and his 
wife nursed him till his wounds were healed, 
and took care of him afterwards. 

"Now such is the depravity of women, that 
Dhumini fell in love with this poor mutilated 
wretch, and determined to have him whether 
he would or no. 

" One day her husband came home from 
hunting, tired and thirsty, and asked her for 
water. She answered : ' I have a very bad 



264 HINDOO TALES. 



headache, you must go and draw for yourself.' 
Then walking softly behind him as he went, 
she waited till he stooped down over the well, 
and pushed him in. 

" Having thus, as she thought, got rid of her 
husband, she took the maimed man on her 
back and carried him till she reached an 
inhabited country, where there was no famine, 
telling those who asked her, that this man 
was her husband, and had been mutilated in 
that manner by a spiteful enemy. 

" She thus became the object of much 
compassion, and praise, for devotion to her 
husband, and the king of the country be- 
stowed on her a small pension on which she 
lived in the city of Avanti. Meanwhile her 
real husband had managed to climb up from 
the well, and wandered about a long time, not 
knowing where his wife was gone. At last he 



HINDOO TALES. 26^ 



D 



came to Avanti in great distress, and was 
begging for food when she chanced to see 
him. Going at once to the king, she said, 
g That wicked wretch who mutilated my hus- 
band is now here ; I have seen him going 
about as a beggar/ 

"Upon this he was immediately seized, and, 
notwithstanding his protestations of inno- 
cence, condemned to death, and led away to 
execution. 

" On the way, with but faint hopes of saving 
his life, he said to the executioner, ' I have 
been condemned on the evidence of one 
witness only; let that man whom I am 
accused of injuring be questioned; if he says 
I am guilty, then indeed I deserve to die/ 

" The executioner saying, ' Perhaps he may 
be innocent — a few minutes' delay can do 
no harm/ took him at once to the house of 



266 HINDOO TALES. 

his wife, and there the poor mutilated wretch, 
with many tears, declared the kindness with 
which he had been treated by the supposed 
criminal, and the wickedness of the woman 
who had forced him to live with her as her 
husband. 

" Thereupon the execution was stayed, and 
the king, having been made acquainted with 
the whole affair, ordered her to be cut in 
pieces and given to the dogs, and showed 
much favour and kindness to her husband. 

" I say, therefore, there is nothing so cruel as 
the heart of a wicked woman." 

The Rakshas appeared to be satisfied with 
this story, and said : " Go on, tell me about 
Gomini." I continued therefore : 

" There was formerly in the country of the 
Dravidas a young brahman of great wealth. 
Somehow he was not married when a mere 



HINDOO TALES. 267 

boy, as is often the case, and when he grew 
up he thought to himself: ' Those who have 
no wives and those who have bad wives are 
equally unfortunate, I will not let my friends 
choose for me, but travel about and look out 
for myself till I find a girl who may suit me. 5 

"Having formed this resolution, and changed 
his name, he set out alone, taking very little 
with him, but a small bag containing two or 
three pounds of rice in the husk. 

"Whenever he saw a maiden of his own 
caste whose appearance he liked, either in the 
houses where he was admitted or elsewhere, 
he would say to her : ' My dear, could you 
make me a good dinner with this rice r ' 
This he did many times, but though parents in 
general would have been willing to give him 
their daughters, he was always laughed at, 
and often treated with contempt. 



268 HINDOO TALES. 



" One day, while sitting in a public place in a 
town which he had lately entered, he observed 
a young girl whose parents had fallen into 
poverty, which was shown by her scanty dress 
and slender ornaments. She passed by him 
accompanied by an old woman, and stood for 
a time very near him. 

" The more he looked at her the more he was 
pleased, and thought to himself: 'This is just 
the wife to suit me ; she is neither too tall nor 
too short, too stout or too thin ; her limbs are 
rounded and well knit ; her back is straight, 
with a slight hollow ; her shoulders are low ; 
her arms plump and soft ; the lines of her 
hands indicate good fortune ; her fingers are 
long and slender ; her nails are like polished 
gems ; her neck is smooth and rounded as a 
slender shell ; her bosom full and well shaped ; 
her face has a sweet expression ; her lips are 



HINDOO TALES. 269 

full and red ; her chin small and compact ; her 
cheeks plump ; her eyebrows glossy black, 
gracefully curved, meeting in the middle ; her 
eyes are long and languishing, very black and 
very white ; her forehead, adorned by beautiful 
curls, resembles a piece of the moon ; her ears 
are delicately formed, and well set off by the 
ear-rings ; her hair is glossy black, brown at 
the ends — long, thick, and not too much 
curled. My heart seems to be drawn towards 
her ; if she is what she seems to be, I will 
certainly marry her ; but I must not act rashly ; 
I will first try her with my test. Then 
approaching her with a polite salutation, he 
said : ' My dear, are you clever enough to 
make a good dinner out of this bag of rice?' 
Without answering a word, she looked signifi- 
cantly at her old nurse, and taking the rice 
from his hand, signed him to sit down on a 



270 HINDOO TALES. 

terrace close by, and sat down herself near 
him. Then, first spreading out the rice in the 
sun that it might be quite dry, she rubbed it 
gently between her hands, so as to get off the 
husk unbroken, and giving it to the nurse, 
she said : ' Take this to some goldsmith ; they 
use it when prepared in this way for polishing 
their gold, and you will get a few pence for it 
— with them buy a little firewood, a few cheap 
dishes, and an earthen pipkin, and bring also 
a wooden mortar with a long pestle.' On 
this errand the old woman departed, and soon 
returned, bringing the things required. 

"Then the girl put the rice into the mortar, 
and very gracefully moving the pestle up and 
down, separated the rice thoroughly from the 
remaining particles of husk and awns, which 
she carefully winnowed away. 

" After this she washed the rice thoroughly, 



HINDOO TALES. 27I 

and the old woman having meanwhile lighted 
a fire and placed the pipkin full of water on 
it, she threw the rice into the water as soon 
as it boiled, in such a manner that the grains 
lay loose and separate. "When they began to 
swell and burst, she took the pot from the 
fire, which she raked together, and set it with 
the lid downwards near the embers, first care- 
fully draining off the rice liquor, and stirring 
the grains several times with a spoon to pre- 
vent their sticking together. 

" After this she put out the fire by throwing 
water on it, and taking the charcoal, sent 
the old woman to sell it, and with the money 
to procure some herbs, ghee, curds, tamarind 
fruit, spices, salt, myrobalan, and sesamum 
oil. "When these things were brought, she 
mixed the myrobalan, finely pounded, with 
salt, and desired the nurse to give it with the 



272 HINDOO TALES. 

sesamum oil to the young brahman, and tell 
him to go and bathe and anoint himself; and 
he having received these things, went to bathe. 

" When he was returned and comfortably 
seated, she gave him to drink rice liquor, 
mixed with spices and cooled by fanning, 
and he was much refreshed by it ; afterwards, 
soup made with some of the liquor, a few 
spoonfuls of rice, butter, and spices ; and, 
lastly, the rest of the rice mixed with curds, 
buttermilk, and several condiments, and he 
had plenty, though some was left. 

" When he had finished, he asked for 
drink. She gave him water in a new cooler, 
sweetened and perfumed with lotus and other 
flowers ; and it looked and felt so cool, 
gurgled so pleasantly, and tasted so sweet, 
that all his senses were gratified, and he 
drank eagerly again and again. 



HINDOO TALES. 273 

" After waiting on him in this manner, as 
soon as the dishes and the remains of the 
meal had been removed by the old nurse, she 
sat down beside him, arranging her scanty 
patched dress as well as she was able. 

"The young brahman having thus satisfied 
himself of the capabilities of the maiden, 
made known his real name and position to 
her parents, and they having gladly accepted 
him, he married the girl in due form, and 
took her home to his own house. 

" Not very long afterwards, with very little 
consideration for her, he took to himself 
another wife, a woman of bad character ; yet 
such was the sweetness of temper of the first, 
that she showed no anger at this, but con- 
tinued to treat her husband with all due 
honour and respect, and so gained over her 
fellow-wife that she became her dearest 

T 



274 HINDOO TALES. 



friend. At the same time she managed the 
household admirably, keeping everything in 
order, yet making all the servants attached 
to her. In short, she acted in such a manner 
that she entirely gained the respect and affec- 
tion of her husband, and he enjoyed great 
happiness, and trusted and consulted her in 
all affairs. 

" Therefore I say that the best thing for a 
householder is to have a good wife." 

Then, in illustration of the third answer, I 
related the story of Ratnavati. " There was, 
in a town in the country of Surat, a rich ship- 
captain who had a daughter named Ratna- 
vati. She was married to Balabhadra, the 
son of a merchant living in another town. 
For some reason he took a sudden dislike to 
his bride on the very day of the w T edding, and 
though she continued to live in his house, 



HINDOO TALES. 275 

avoided her as much as possible, and would 
never speak to her, notwithstanding the re- 
monstrances of his friends. The rest of the 
family and the servants, seeing this, treated 
her with neglect and contempt, so that she led 
a most wretched life. 

" One day, wandering about disconsolate, 
she met with an old woman, a buddhist men- 
dicant, who, seeing her weeping and looking 
miserable, asked her the reason. She, think- 
ing that this woman might possibly be pos- 
sessed of some charm capable of bringing 
back her husband's affections, half unwil- 
lingly told her the cause of her grief. 

" ' On the very day of our marriage my 
husband, from some cause or other, took a 
sudden dislike to me, and since then he has 
treated me with neglect and contempt, so that 
I hardly ever see his face, and then only by 



276 HINDOO TALES. 



chance for a moment, for he avoids me as 
much as possible ; his family also, following 
his example, behave to me with great un- 
kindness. I have no comfort or happiness, 
and only wish for death. But you must not 
tell this to any one ; I would not on any 
account have my misfortune talked about/ 

" The old woman answered : ' Surely this 
must be a punishment for some great sin 
committed in a former existence, or such a 
charming person as yourself would never be 
thus treated by your husband. I recommend 
you to practise penance and prayer ; perhaps 
the gods may be appeased, and a favourable 
change produced. Meanwhile, if there is any 
way in which I can help you, I will gladly 
do so. You seem very intelligent ; cannot you 
think of some stratagem which may have the 
desired effect ? ' 



HINDOO TALES. 277 

" After reflecting for some time, she said : 
' Though my husband so neglects me, I know 
that he is very fond of women in general, and 
ready to be captivated by any one, especially 
a respectable woman who will give him a 
little encouragement. Acting on this pro- 
pensity, I think, with your help, that some- 
thing may be done. There is a young lad}', 
a neighbour, the daughter of a very rich 
man, in great favour with the Rajah ; she is 
a friend of mine, and is very like me. As 
my husband hardly knows her by sight, and 
scarcely ever sees me, it might be possible 
to pass myself off for her. Do you, there- 
fore, go to him and say that that young lady 
is in love with him, and that you will intro- 
duce him to her, only he must not give a hint 
that you have told him anything. Mean- 
while I will arrange with my friend, and will 



278 HINDOO TALES. 

be walking in her father's garden some even- 
ing, when you can bring him in/ The old 
woman was delighted with this contrivance, 
and promised to perform her part. She 
went, therefore, soon afterwards with a pre- 
tended message of love from the merchant's 
daughter to Balabhadra, who was delighted 
at having attracted the attention of such a 
charming young lady, and took care to be at 
the appointed time in the garden, where he 
saw his neglected wife playing at ball. As 
if by accident, she threw the ball towards 
him, and the old woman said: 'This is an 
invitation ; pick up the ball, and take it to 
her with a pretty speech, and you will get 
acquainted with her/ In this way an inti- 
macy began, and he often met his wife in the 
same place in the evening without in the least 
suspecting the deception. At last she gave 



HINDOO TALES. 279 

him a hint that she was ready to run away 
with him. Madly in love, he eagerly caught 
at the proposal, and one night, having col- 
lected what money he could carry, he eloped 
with her, saying nothing to any of his friends. 
They were much astonished by his sudden 
disappearance ; but when they found that 
Ratnavati was gone also, they readily be- 
lieved the story told by the old woman, that 
he had fallen in love with his own wife, but 
was ashamed to acknowledge this after hav- 
ing so long neglected her, and was therefore 
gone to live in another place, where he was 
not known. Believing this story, her rela- 
tions and his thought it best to take no steps 
in the matter, and abstained from making 
inquiry after him. 

" Meanwhile Balabhadra went to a town at 
some distance, and there by his skill and 



280 HINDOO TALES. 

energy, though beginning with a small 
capital, amassed in a few years a consider- 
able fortune, and w r as much respected in the 
place. 

" When Ratnavati eloped under another 
name, she engaged a woman to accompany 
her as a servant ; and this woman one day 
having committed some fault, was beaten by 
her master, who scolded her and told her she 
was lazy, thievish, and impudent. Smarting 
under the punishment, she determined to be 
revenged, and going to the magistrate told 
him : ' This man, who seems to you so 
respectable, is a wicked w^retch who has 
abandoned his own wife, and run away in the 
night with the daughter of one of his neigh- 
bours, with whom he is now living/ 

"The magistrate having heard this, and 
being very covetous, thought : c If this man is 



HINDOO TALES. 281 

convicted, his property will be confiscated, 
and I shall get a share of it/ He therefore 
began to take proceedings against Balab- 
hadra, who w T as greatly alarmed. But his 
wife said to him, ' Do not be frightened ; put a 
good face on the matter, and say : u This is not 
Kanakavati, the daughter of Niddhipatidatta ; 
this is my own lawful wife, the daughter of 
Grihagupta, who lives at Valabhi. She was 
married to me with the proper ceremony and 
with the full consent of her parents. This 
woman's accusation is altogether false ; but if 
you will not believe my assertion, send to 
Valabhi, to my wife's father, and hear what 
he will say — or send to the town where I 
formerly lived, and make inquiries there/ 

"This was done, he was admitted to bail, 
and a letter was written to the father of 
Ratnavati, who answered it in person, and 



262 HINDOO TALES. 

declared that the lady in question was really 
his daughter. Thus the matter was settled ; 
but the husband, thinking that the old man 
was deceived by the likeness, held to his 
former belief, and continued to live happily 
with his wife, without ever discovering the 
delusion. Therefore I say that love is only 
imagination. " 

The Rakshas, though appearing to be satis- 
fied with these stories, required me to relate 
that of Nitambavati, which I proceeded to do. 

" In a city called Madhura, there dwelt a 
man named Kalahakantaka, of great strength 
and vigour, ready at any time to take up the 
quarrel of a friend, famed for deeds of vio- 
lence, and devoted to pleasures and amuse- 
ments. 

" One day he saw a picture exhibited by a 
painter, a new-comer, and stopped to look at 



HINDOO TALES. 283 

it. It was the portrait of a lady so beautiful 
that he fell in love with her at once. Desirous 
of finding out whom it represented, he praised 
the picture exceedingly, and having put the 
artist in good humour, got him to say who the 
lady was. ' Her name/ said he, ' is Nitam- 
bavati ; she is the wife of a merchant living at 
Avanti or Oujein, and I was so struck by her 
beauty that I sought and obtained permission 
to paint her portrait. 5 

" On hearing this, Kalahakantaka, taking 
another name, went to Oujein; and there, 
having disguised himself as a mendicant, got 
admission to the merchant's house, saw the 
lady, whose beauty exceeded even his expecta- 
tion, and was confirmed in his wicked purpose. 

"At this time a guardian or watchman 
was wanted for the public cemetery, and he 
applied for and obtained the office. 



284 HINDOO TALES. 



" With the clothes which he took from the 
bodies brought to be burnt there, he bribed an 
old woman to take a message from him. She 
went to Nitambavati, and said : ' A very hand- 
some young man is much in love with you — 
pray let him see you if only for once/ On 
receiving this message, the merchant's wife 
was very indignant, and sent the old woman 
away with angry words. Kalahakantaka, 
however, was not discouraged, and said to 
his messenger : ' Go again, and say to the 
lady : "Do you imagine that a person like me 
devoted to religious meditation, who have 
passed so many years in pilgrimages to holy 
places, w r ould wish to lead you into sin ? Far 
from it. I had heard that you were childless, 
and wishing for children, and I know of 
means through which your wish may be 
accomplished ; but I thought it right to find 



HINDOO TALES. 2S5 



out first whether you were worthy of such a 
service, and now that I have ascertained you 
to be virtuous and true to your husband, I 
w r ill gladly assist you/" 

" With this story the old cheat went again to 
the lady, who, believing her to be sincere, 
gladly accepted the offer, and she went on to 
say : ' The reason of your being childless is 
that a spell has been laid upon your husband, 
which can only be removed by the means 
which I will indicate to you. You must go at 
night to a clump of trees in the park. I will 
come to you there, and will bring with me a 
man skilled in incantations. You have only to 
stand for a moment, putting your foot into his 
hand while he utters certain charms, then go 
home, and, as if in play, strike your husband 
on the breast. This will dissolve the spell, and 
by-and-by you will have children/ 



286 HINDOO TALES. 

" Anxious to have the spell removed from 
her husband, Nitambavati consented to this, 
and went at night to the appointed place. 
There she found Kalahakantaka waiting, 
and as the old woman had directed, put 
her foot into his hand while he knelt before 
her. 

" No sooner had he got hold of it than he 
took off her anklet, and slipping his hand up 
her leg, inflicted a slight wound above the 
knee, and ran away. 

" The poor lady, dreadfully frightened, blam- 
ing herself, and enraged with the old woman, 
who had so cruelly deceived her, got home 
as well as she could, washed and bound up 
the cut, and kept her bed for several days, 
having taken off the other anklet, that the 
less might not be observed. 

" Meanwhile the rascal took the anklet he 



HINDOO TALES. 287 

had stolen to the husband, saying : ' I wish 
to dispose of this, will you buy it ? ' 

" Recognising the ornament as having been 
his wife's, he asked: c Where did you get 
this ? * 

" The man answered : ' I will not tell you 
now, but if you are not satisfied that it is 
honestly mine, take me before the magis- 
trates, and I will then declare how I came 
by it/ 

" Upon this the merchant went to his wife 
and said : ' Let me see your anklets/ 

" With some confusion and alarm, she 
answered : 4 1 have only one of them, the 
other being, as I suppose, loosely fastened, 
dropped off a few days ago when I w T as walk- 
ing in the evening in the garden, and I have 
not been able to find it/ 

"Dissatisfied with this answer, the husband 



288 HINDOO TALES. 

went before the magistrates with the man 
who had offered the anklet for sale, and he 
being there questioned, said : € You know I 
was appointed not long ago to the care of 
the public cemetery, and as people come 
sometimes after dark to steal the clothes, or 
to lay a dead body on a pile prepared for 
another, and so cheat me of my fees, I have 
lately kept watch there at night/ 

" ' A short time ago I saw a woman in a 
dark dress dragging away part of a half- 
burnt body, and ran to seize her. In the 
struggle her anklet came off, and I gave her 
a slight wound on the leg, but she got away, 
and I could not overtake her ; this is how 
the ornament came into my possession. I 
leave it to you to say whether I have done 
wrong or no/ 

" Then the magistrates and citizens who 



HINDOO TALES. 289 



were assembled were unanimously of opinion 
that the woman was a Sakini.* She was 
therefore divorced from her husband, and 
condemned to be tied to a stake in the 
cemetery, and left there. 

" In this state she was found by Kalaha- 
kantaka, who cut the cords which fastened 
her, and, falling at her feet, confessed all that 
he had done, alleging his great love for her 
as an excuse for his cruel conduct : 'And now/ 
said he, i consent to be my wife, and I will 
carry you away to my own home in a distant 
country, where you will not be known. I 
will do everything in my power to make your 
life happy, and atone for the suffering which 
I have caused you/ 

* An evil spirit, the ghoul of the "Arabian Nights," the 
readers of which will remember the story of Amina, who goes 
out at night to feast on dead bodies. 

U 



290 HINDOO TALES. 

"For a long time the unhappy lady re- 
fused ; but at last, overcome by his earnest 
entreaties, and feeling how unjustly she had 
been disgraced and ill-treated, she consented 
to accompany him. Thus, by cunning, he 
gained his end, which he could not have 
accomplished by any other means. There- 
fore I say cunning best accomplishes difficult 
things." 

Having heard these stories, the Rakshas 
was much pleased, and offered me his assist- 
ance if I should require it. At that moment 
several pearls fell close beside us. Looking 
up to see whence they came, I perceived a 
Rakshas flying through the air, carrying a 
woman who was struggling with him. 

" Shall that monster carry off the lady 
before our eyes ? O that I could fly to 
rescue her ! " 



HINDOO TALES. 291 

As I exclaimed thus, my new ally, without 
waiting to be entreated, sprang into the air, 
and calling out " Stop ! stop ! wicked 
wretch ! " attacked and dragged down the 
other Rakshas. He, in defending himself, 
when only a short distance from the ground, 
let the lady fall, and I caught her with out- 
stretched arms in such a manner that, though 
much shaken and alarmed, she was not se- 
riously injured. I held her for a moment 
insensible in my arms, while I gazed at the 
combatants. Their flight was of short dura- 
tion, for they attacked each other so furiously 
that both were killed. 

Then laying my burden on the soft grass 
in a shady place, and sprinkling her with 
water, I soon had the happiness of seeing her 
open her eyes, and of recognising the beloved 
of my heart, the Princess Kandukavati, who 



292 HINDOO TALES. 

was equally delighted on finding who was 
her deliverer. 

When sufficiently recovered, she said to 
me : " On returning home after the ball 
dance, longing to see you, and sad with the 
thought that we might never meet again, I 
was filled with great happiness by the report 
which Chandrasena brought me of your love ; 
but when I heard that you had been bound 
and thrown into the sea by my wicked 
brother, I fell into the deepest despair, and 
wished for death. Wandering in this state 
of mind about the gardens, I was espied by 
that vile Rakshas, w^ho, having assumed a 
human form, first made love to me, and then, 
when rejected, forcibly carried me off. He 
is, happily, now dead, and all that I have 
suffered is as nothing now that I am with 
you ; let us return as soon as possible to my 



HINDOO TALES. 293 

parents, who will have been greatly dis- 
tressed at my disappearance." 

Without delay I carried her down to the 
shore, embarked, set sail at once, and the 
wind being favourable, we soon reached 
Damalipta. Here we found great confusion 
and grief among the people, and were told 
on inquiring: " The king and queen, utterly 
broken down by the loss of their son and 
daughter, have determined to abandon life, 
and have just set out for a holy place on the 
bank of the Ganges, with the intention of 
fasting to death there ; and several of the old 
citizens have accompanied them with the 
same purpose." 

On hearing this I immediately went after 
them, and having soon overtaken them, was 
able to give them great happiness, by tell- 
ing them of all that had occurred, and how 
both their son and daughter were safely 



294 HINDOO TALES. 

returned ; and they went back with me to 
the city, to the great joy of the people. The 
king treated me with great honour, and not 
long afterwards the princess became my 
wife. Her brother was reconciled to me, and 
at my request, though very reluctantly, gave 
up all further attention to Chandrasena, who 
was happily united w T ith her lover. 

When King Sinhavarma was attacked as 
you know, I marched with an army to his 
assistance, and have thus the great pleasure 
of meeting with you. 

The prince having heard this story said : 
" Your adventures have indeed been strange, 
and your escape from death wonderful. 
Great is the power of fate, but excellent 
also is courage and presence of mind such as 
you have shown." Then turning to Mantra- 
gupta, he desired him to relate his adven- 
tures, which he immediately began to do : — 



ADVENTURES OF MANTRAGUPTA. 

TV /T Y LORD, I also, in my anxiety to find 
you, wandered about like the others. 
Late one evening I came to a wood, a few 
miles from the city of Kalinga, and very 
near a public cemetery. Seeing no dwell- 
ing near, I made myself a bed of leaves, and 
lay down under a large tree, where I was 
soon asleep. About midnight, when evil 
spirits are wont to roam, and everything was 
quiet around me, I awoke, and fancied I 
heard a whispering conversation going on 
among the branches of the tree immediately 
above me. Listening very attentively, I was 
able to distinguish these words : 



296 HINDOO TALES. 

" We are powerless to resist that vile 
Siddha whenever he chooses to command us ; 
could not some person be found powerful 
enough to counteract the designs of that vile 
magician ?" 

After this the voices ceased, and I thought 
I could hear a rustling among the branches 
as if the speakers were moving from tree to 
tree. This strange occurrence greatly excited 
my curiosity. I said to myself : " Who are 
these creatures whose voices I have heard r who 
can that magician be, and what dreadful thing 
is it which he is about to do r" With these 
thoughts, I determined if possible to dis- 
cover the mystery, and followed, as well as 
I was able, the direction which the demons, 
or whatever they were whom I had heard 
conversing, had taken. Guided by the rustling 
sound which I still heard above me, I made 



HINDOO TALES. 297 

my way through the darkness, till at last I 
thought I saw a light in the distance, and 
going a little further, I perceived a fire 
shining through the thick foliage. Ap- 
proaching very cautiously, I saw a Siddha 
standing near it, his head covered with a 
large mass of tangled hair, his body 
begrimed with the dust of charcoal, and a 
girdle of human bones round his waist. He 
was throwing at intervals handfuls of sesa- 
mum and mustard-seed into the fire, causing 
flickering flames to rise up and dispel the 
surrounding darkness. Before him, in humble 
attitude, stood two Rakshas, male and female, 
whom I supposed to be those whose voices 
I had heard in the tree. They said to him, 
" We await your commands. "What are we 
now to do j" 

u Go," he answered in a stern voice, 



HINDOO TALES. 



u immediately to the palace of the King of 
Kalinga, and bring here his daughter Kanaka- 
lekha." This they did in an incredibly short 
time. As soon as she was brought he seized 
her by the hair, and disregarding her tears 
and entreaties and screams for help, was 
about to cut off her head with a sword. 

Meanwhile I had cautiously crept nearer, 
and perceiving the danger of the princess, 
I made a sudden rush at him, snatched the 
sword from his hand and cut off his head. 

Seeing this, the two Rakshas approached 
me, and showing great delight at the death 
of their cruel master, said to me : " That 
wicked man has for a long time had power 
over us ; we have continually been compelled 
to go on his vile errands, and have had no 
rest night or day. l You have done a truly 
good deed in killing him ; your valour has 



HINDOO TALES. 299 

freed us from this slavery ; he is gone to the 
kingdom of Yam a, where he will receive the 
reward of his evil deeds, and we are ready 
to serve you ; say only what is to be done." 

I thanked them for their grateful offer, and 
said : " I have only done what every good 
man would have done under the circum- 
stances ; but if you are willing to serve me, 
all that I require of you is to carry this lady 
again to her father's house, from which she 
was so cruelly taken." 

The princess hearing this, stood for a 
moment irresolute, with her head bent down, 
her eyes half closed, her eyebrows quivering, 
her bosom agitated by hurried breathing and 
wetted by tears of joy, restlessly moving 
one foot, as if scratching the ground, and 
betraying the struggle between bashfulness 
and love by alternate blushes and paleness. 



300 HINDOO TALES. 



Then, in a low sweet gentle voice, she uttered 
these words : " O gracious, sir why do you, 
having just delivered me from a terrible 
death, now overwhelm me in a sea of love 
whose waves are the agitations of anxiety 
driven by the wind of passion ? My life, 
saved by you, is entirely at your disposal. 
Take pity on me ; regard me as your own. 
Let me be your servant, your slave ; I would 
endure anything rather than separation from 
you. Come with me to my father's palace ; 
you need not fear discovery ; all my friends 
and attendants are faithful and devoted to 
me ; they will carefully keep the secret/' 

Pierced to the heart by the arrows of 
Kama, tied and bound by her looks and 
w T ords as if with chains of iron, I had no 
power to refuse, and turning to the two 
Rakshas, I said : u I have no choice here. 



HINDOO TALES. 



Whatever this fair lady commands must be 
done. Take us both, therefore, to the place 
from which you brought her." 

Bowing down in submission, they lifted 
us from the ground, carried us through the 
air, and placed us while it was yet night in the 
apartments of the princess. There she in- 
troduced me to her attendants, assigned me 
a room in the upper story where I might 
most easily escape detection, and appointed 
them to keep watch so that no one might 
enter her apartments without notice. I had 
thus abundant opportunities of being with 
the princess ; but though my love daily in- 
creased, I made no further advances to her. 

One day some of her women came with 
tears in their eyes, and bowing down to my 
feet, said, with whispering timid voice, u O 
gracious sir, our lady is doubly yours, since 



302 HINDOO TALES. 



she was gained by your own valour when 
you rescued her from death, and is assigned to 
you by the all-powerful God of Love. Do not 
let her languish in vain. Make her your 
wife without delay." With this request I 
could not refuse to comply, and taking the 
hand of the princess, I declared our solemn 
union. 

For a time we enjoyed the greatest happi- 
ness. It was destined, however, to be of no 
long duration ; our separation was at hand, 
for now was the time of spring, w T hen the 
trees were covered w^ith blossoms bent down 
by the eager bees, and the song of birds was 
resounding among their branches waved by 
the soft south wind, bearing perfume from the 
sandal groves of Malaya ; at wilich season the 
king was accustomed to go with all his court 
to the sea-shore, and there, in tents under the 



HINDOO TALES. 



shade of lofty trees, to enjoy the cool sea 
breezes. 

My bride of course went with the rest ; and 
as there was no possibility of concealing me 
in such a place, I was obliged, though reluc- 
tantly, to let her depart alone, consoling 
myself by looking forward to her return. 

The royal party had not long been gone, 
when news was brought to the city that the 
king and all his court, thinking only of enjoy- 
ment, and unsuspicious of danger, had been 
captured by Jayasinha, King of Andhra, who, 
sailing with a large fleet, had suddenly landed 
and taken them by surprise. 

This news caused me the greatest con- 
sternation. " Jayasinha/' I thought, " will 
certainly be captivated by the beauty of the 
princess ; she will take poison rather than 
submit to his embraces ; and I could not 



304 HINDOO TALES. 

long survive her, for how could I live without 
her?" 

While perplexed with this thought, and not 
knowing what to do, I heard of a brahman 
just arrived from Andhra, who was full of 
a strange event which had lately happened 
there. 

"The King of Andhra/ 5 he said, " has long 
been a bitter enemy of the King of Kalinga, 
and having taken him prisoner, was about to 
kill him, but he has fallen in love with the 
princess Kanakalekha, and wishing to marly 
her, not only spares her father s life, but 
treats him with kindness for her sake. 

"An unexpected obstacle to the accom- 
plishment of his wishes has, however, arisen ; 
the lady has suddenly become possessed by 
an evil spirit, whose rage is greatest whenever 
the king visits her. 



HINDOO TALES. 305 

" Anxious for her recovery, he has offered a 
large reward to any one who shall succeed in 
driving out the demon, but as yet no one has 
been able to effect her cure." 

This information filled me with hope, for I 
w T as well aware of the nature of the princess's 
disease, and knew that no one but myself 
could cure it. I was able, therefore, to form a 
plan for her deliverance, and quickly decided 
on the disguise to be adopted. At the time 
when I killed the magician, I had taken off 
his scalp, with all the mass of tangled hair, 
and had hid it in a hollow tree. I now went 
to the place, and taking out this scalp, fitted 
it on my own head ; then rubbing over my 
whole body with dirt and charcoal dust, and 
dressing myself in old rags, I was completely 
disguised as an ascetic — and when I went into 
the neighbouring villages I was regarded as a 

x 



306 HINDOO TALES. 



very holy devotee, and had many applications 
from persons wishing for advice or seeking to 
be cured of diseases. This belief I encouraged 
to the utmost, and took care to keep up my 
credit by means of various tricks and con- 
trivances. 

In this manner I was soon able to collect 
a number of disciples, glad to live in idle- 
ness on the offerings continually brought to 
me, fully believing in my sanctity, entirely 
devoted to me, and ready to obey all my com- 
mands. 

Having got together this troop of followers, 
I went to the side of a tank or small lake not 
far from the city of Andhra, built myself a 
hut, and made known that I intended to stay 
there for a time. 

The news of my arrival was soon spread 
abroad by my disciples, who were loud in 



HINDOO TALES. 307 



their praises of my miraculous powers, and 
the wonderful cures which I had effected ; and 
great numbers of people came from the city 
to see me, either from curiosity or from the 
hope of receiving some benefit. 

In a very short time wonderful stories about 
me were brought to the Raja. " There is now 
a very holy devotee sleeping on the ground 
near the lake ; he is possessed of the most 
marvellous knowledge. There is no question 
which he cannot answer, no difficulty which 
he cannot solve. His power of healing is 
beyond belief; a few grains of dust fallen from 
his feet, when sprinkled on the head of the 
sick, are more efficacious than any medicine ; 
and water in which his feet have been washed 
has cured in a moment diseases, and driven 
out evil spirits which have resisted for a long 
time all the efforts of physicians and exorcists. 



3°S HINDOO TALES. 

Yet with all this he is exceedingly kind and 
condescending, and free from pride/' 

The king, hearing all this, thought : " This is 
just the person I am in need of; no doubt he 
will be able to cure the princess/' He therefore 
determined to apply to me ; but so great was 
his respect for my dignity and supernatural 
powers, that he did not venture to send for 
me, but came several times to see me, distri- 
buting each time money among my followers, 
before mentioning his request that I would 
drive out the evil spirit from the princess. 

After hearing his statement, I looked very 
grave, and appeared for some time to be 
wrapped in profound meditation. At last I 
said : " Sir, you have done very right to 
apply to me ; I will undertake that the lady 
shall be cured, but it would be useless for me 
to see her at present. The case is a very 



HINDOO TALES. 309 

peculiar one, and the cure requires much 
thought and consideration ; wait therefore for 
three days, then come again, and I will tell 
you what is to be done." On receiving this 
answer, the king went away very well satis- 
fied. 

That night, as soon as it was dark, telling 
my followers on no account to disturb me, I 
went, as if for private meditation, to one 
side of the tank, at some distance from the 
steps, and there dug a large hole in the bank 
sloping upwards, with the opening partly 
under water and concealed by loose stones 
above ; taking care to throw the excavated 
earth into the tank. 

On the third day, at dawn, I rearranged my 
dress as before, and having worshipped the 
all-seeing sun as he rose, returned to my 
followers. 



3IO HINDOO TALES. 

I had not long been settled in my usual 
place when the king made his appearance, 
and bowing down to my feet, he awaited 
my pleasure. 

Having kept him a short time in suspense, 
I thus addressed him : " Success does not 
come to the careless, but all advantages are 
attainable by the energetic ; being devoted 
to your service, I have given my whole mind 
to the consideration of this difficult affair, 
and can now point out a certain way to 
success. 

"The evil spirit by whom the princess is 
possessed cannot bear the sight of you in 
your present form, and therefore breaks out 
into fury when you appear. If your body 
can be changed, he will no longer be 
offended, and will immediately depart ; there 
is no other way by which he can be driven 






HINDOO TALES. 311 



out. I have therefore so prepared this lake 
that if you bathe in it in accordance with 
my directions, you will acquire a new and 
beautiful body acceptable to the lady, and 
she will no more be troubled with the evil 
spirit. 

"You must therefore come here at mid- 
night, and having stripped entirely, swim 
out into the middle of the tank, and there 
float on your back as long as possible. Pre- 
sently a rushing noise will be heard, and 
the water will be troubled, and dash against 
the bank. As soon as the commotion has 
subsided, come forth ; you will find that your 
body has become younger, stronger, and 
improved in every respect ; and when you 
return to the palace there will be no further 
difficulty or obstacle on the part of the prin- 
cess, who will immediately undergo a change 



312 HINDOO TALES. 

in her feelings, and will long for your society 
as much as she now abhors it. All this is 
quite certain ; you need not have the 
smallest doubt ; but if you think proper, 
before deciding, consult your ministers, and 
be guided by their advice. If they consent, 
first worship the gods and propitiate them 
with offerings, make large donations to the 
brahmans and the poor, and come here to- 
night at the appointed time. That there 
may be no danger from alligators or con- 
cealed enemies, let the tank be thoroughly 
dragged with nets by a hundred fishermen, 
and place a line of soldiers all round it with 
torches in their hands a few steps from the 
water; with these precautions no possible 
harm can happen to you." 

The enamoured king, very anxious for the 
expulsion of the supposed demon, and fully 



HINDOO TALES. 



believing that I had the power to perform 
what I had promised, went away well 
pleased, and immediately consulted his mi- 
nisters. They seeing how eager he was, and 
not anticipating any possibility of danger, 
readily approved of the proceeding. 

Having obtained their consent the king 
returned to me, and finding that I was about 
to depart, earnestly entreated me to stay, 
saying that half the pleasure of success 
would be taken away if I were not there to 
witness it ; but I answered that there were 
urgent reasons for my immediate departure, 
and that I had already remained longer than 
I had intended to do, solely on his account. 
I assured him that I had so prepared every- 
thing that my presence was now quite un- 
necessary, that I was about to disappear 
from the world, and that he would see me 



314 HINDOO TALES. 



no more. Finding me quite determined, he 
took leave of me with many expressions of 
respect, and went back to his palace to give 
orders for the performance of all that I had 
directed. 

Accordingly, a large number of fishermen 
with nets were engaged, by whom the lake was 
thoroughly dragged, and large donations were 
made to the brahmans and the poor. Towards 
evening, soldiers with torches were placed 
all round the tank, and at midnight the 
king, attended by a numerous retinue, and 
followed by a great crowd anxious to wit- 
ness the expected miracle, came to the steps 
leading down to the water, and having un- 
dressed there in a tent which had been 
pitched for that purpose, plunged in and 
swam out to the middle. 

Meanwhile I had said to my followers : " I 






HINDOO TALES. 315 

have no further need of you ; I am about to 
retire to a lonely place to practise medita- 
tion ; you may now leave me ; go, and my 
blessing be upon you/' Well satisfied with 
the gifts they had received, they departed ; 
and when they were gone I slipped unob- 
served into the lake, and entered the 
hole which I had prepared. There I re- 
mained till I heard the noise of the crowd 
who came with the king, and perceived him 
floating on the surface. Diving cautiously 
under him, I pulled him down, strangled 
him, and dragged the body into the hole; 
then swimming to the steps, I boldly came 
forth, to the astonishment of the attendants, 
who, though they had expected a miracle, 
were scarcely prepared for such a great 
change. No one, however, doubted that I 
was really their sovereign, and having 



316 HINDOO TALES. 

dressed and mounted an elephant, I entered 
the city, escorted by the soldiers and fol- 
lowed by a great crowd of people, who had 
come forth from curiosity, and were loud in 
their praises of the pious man who had 
wrought such a miracle. 

That night I was unable to sleep. In the 
morning I summoned all the ministers and 
counsellors, and said : " Behold the power of 
piety and penance. That holy man has per- 
formed a great miracle, and bestowed on me 
this new body, which you see, by means of 
the tank which he has consecrated, and 
through the favour of the gods, whom he had 
long propitiated ; after such a manifestation, 
who shall doubt their power ? Let the faces of 
all unbelievers be bowed down by shame ; 
let a great and solemn festival be made with 
song and dance in honour of Brahma, Siva, 



HINDOO TALES. 317 

Yama, and the other deities, the rulers of the 
world, and distribute much money among the 
poor/ 5 

This speech was received with great appro- 
bation, and all, congratulating me and prais- 
ing the gods, performed the duties imposed 
upon them. 

After this I went to the women's apartments, 
and there the first person whom I met was a 
very devoted servant of the princess, who had 
been especially attentive to me. She, not 
imagining what had occurred, w^ould have let 
me pass without especial notice ; but I called 
her, and said : " Have you never seen me 
before r" 

Then indeed she opened her eyes wide with 
joy and astonishment, saying : " Can it be 
possible r is not this a delusion r Tell me 
what it all means." 



318 HINDOO TALES. 

I gave her a brief account of what had hap- 
pened, and sent her to prepare my wife. How 
glad she was to see me you may well ima- 
gine. 

So well did we manage, that the secret was 
kept, no suspicion even arose, and all the 
people were rejoiced at the favourable change, 
not only in the person, but in the temper and 
disposition of their sovereign. 

In due time I was publicly married to the 
princess, and reinstated her father in his 
kingdom. 

I have now come here with an army to 
assist the King of Anga, and have thus ob- 
tained the great happiness of seeing you 
again. 

The prince, having heard this story, said : 
" Your cleverness has indeed been great, and 
your personation of the Siddha wonderful. 



HINDOO TALES. 319 

May you long continue to possess such wis- 
dom and prudence, combined with wit and 
cheerfulness." Then, looking at Visruta, he 
said : " It is now your turn ; " and he forth- 
with began : — 



ADVENTURES OF VISRUTA. 

TV IT Y LORD, as I was wandering one day 
in the forest of Vindhya, I met with a 
very handsome boy, standing by the side of a 
well, crying bitterly. When I asked what 
w r as the matter, he said : " The old man who 
was with me, when trying to get water from 
this well, fell in, and I am unable to help him. 
What will become of me ?" 

Hearing this, I looked down the well, which 
was not very deep, and saw the old man 
standing at the bottom, the water not being 
sufficient to cover him. By means of a long 
and tough stem of a creeper, I pulled him up 
safely ; then using it again as a rope, with a 



HINDOO TALES. 321 

cup made from the hollow stem of a bamboo, 
I drew water for the poor child, who was half 
dead with thirst ; and finding that he was 
suffering from hunger also, I knocked down 
some nuts from the top of a high tree with a 
well-aimed blow of a stone. 

The old man was very grateful for my 
timely assistance ; and when we were all 
comfortably seated in the shade, he gave me, 
at my request, a long account of the circum- 
stances which had brought him there, say- 
ing:— 

" There was formerly a King of Vidarba 
remarkable for wisdom and justice, learned in 
the Scriptures, a protector of his subjects (by 
whom he was much beloved;, a terror to his 
enemies, wise in political science, upright 
and honest in all his actions, kind to his de- 
pendents, grateful for even small sendees, and 

Y 



322 HINDOO TALES. 

gracious to all. Having lived the full age of 
man, he died, leaving a prosperous kingdom 
to his son Anantavarma, a young man of 
great abilities, but caring more for the mecha- 
nical arts, music, and poetry, than for his 
duties as a ruler. 

" One day, one of his father's old counsel- 
lors in private addressed him thus : i Sire, 
your majesty, with the advantage of royal 
birth, has almost every good quality that can 
be desired ; your intelligence is very great ; 
your knowledge superior to that of others ; 
but all this, without instruction in political 
science and attention to public affairs, is in- 
sufficient for a king ; void of such knowledge, 
he is despised, not only by foreigners, but by 
his own subjects, who, disregarding all laws, 
human and divine, at last perish miserably, 
and drag down their sovereign in their fall. A 



HINDOO TALES. 323 

king who has not political wisdom, however 
good his eyesight may be, is regarded by the 
wise as a blind man, unable to see things as 
they are. I entreat you, therefore, to give up 
the pursuits to which you are so devoted, 
and to study the art of government. Your 
power will then be strengthened, and you 
may long reign over a happy and prosperous 
people/ 

" To this exhortation the young king ap- 
peared to listen attentively ; and said : ' Such 
is the teaching of the wise ; it ought to be 
followed/ 

" After dismissing the old counsellor, the 
king went into the women's apartments, and 
began to talk to them of the exhortation which 
he had just received. His observations were 
attentively listened to by one of his constant 
attendants, who determined, if possible, to 



324 HINDOO TALES. 



turn the king's thoughts in another direction, 
and prevent him from being influenced by the 
good advice which had been given. This man 
had many accomplishments ; he was skilled 
in dancing, music, and singing ; quick at re- 
partee ; a good story-teller ; full of fun and 
jokes; but devoid of honour and honesty; 
false, slanderous, a receiver of bribes, a bad 
man in every way; yet, from his wit and 
humour, very acceptable to the king, whom 
he now thus addressed : ' Wherever there is 
a person of exalted position, there are always 
clever rogues ready to prey upon him, and, 
w^hile degrading him, to accomplish their own 
base purposes. Some, under the guise of re- 
ligion, will tell him : " The happiness of this 
w r orld is shortlived and fleeting ; eternal hap- 
piness can only be obtained by prayer and 
penance;" and so they persuade him to shave 



HINDOO TALES. 325 

his head, wear a dress of skins, gird himself 
with a rope of sacred grass, and, renouncing 
all pleasures and luxuries, to betake himself 
to fasting and penance, and give away his 
riches to the poor, meaning, of course, them- 
selves ; some of these religious impostors 
will even persuade their dupes to renounce 
children, wife — nay, even life itself. 

" ' But suppose a man to have too much 
sense to be deluded in this way, they will try 
a different plan ; to one they will say : " We 
can make gold ; only furnish us with the 
means, and your riches shall be increased 
a thousandfold ; " to another: "We can show 
you how to destroy all your enemies without 
a weapon ;" to another: " Follow our advice, 
and, though you are nobody now, you shall 
soon become a great man." 

" ' If their victim is a sovereign, they will 



326 HINDOO TALES. 

say to him : " Four branches of study are said 
to be proper for kings — the vedas, the pur- 
anas, metaphysics, and political science ; but 
the first three are of very little advantage ; 
they may safely be neglected, and he should 
give up his mind to the last only. Are there 
not the six thousand verses composed for the 
use of kings, and containing the whole 
science ? Learn these by heart, and you will 
be prepared for all emergencies. " So then he 
must set to work to learn all these crabbed 
rules. He must, according to them, distrust 
every one, even wife or son. He must rise 
early, take a very scanty meal, and imme- 
diately proceed to business. 

" l First he must go over accounts, and 
balance income and expenditure; and while 
his rascally ministers pretend to have every- 
thing very exact, they have forty thousand 



HINDOO TALES. 327 

ways of cheating him, and take good care of 
themselves. 

" ' Then he must sit in public, and be tired to 
death with receiving frivolous complaints and 
petitions, and will not even have the satisfac- 
tion of doing justice ; for, whether a cause be 
just or not, his ministers will take care that 
the decision shall be according to their own 
interests. 

" ' Then he is allowed a short time for bath- 
ing, dressing, and dining ; if, indeed, the poor 
wretch can venture to dine, with the constant 
fear of poison in his mind. 

" ' After this he must remain a long time in 
council with his ministers, perplexed w T ith 
their conflicting arguments, and unable to 
understand even the half of them ; while 
they, pretending to act impartially, get every- 
thing settled as they had previously agreed 



328 HINDOO TALES. 

and by twisting and distorting the reports of 
spies and emissaries, manage to serve them- 
selves and their friends, and to get credit 
for putting down disturbances which they 
themselves had excited. 

" i He is now allowed to take a little amuse- 
ment, but the time for this is restricted to an 
hour and a half. 

" ' Then he must review his army ; hear 
the reports of the commander of his forces ; 
give orders for peace or war ; and act upon 
the accounts brought by spies and emissaries. 

" i However weary he may be with all this, 
he must sit down and read diligently, like 
some poor student, for several hours. Then 
at last he may retire to rest ; but before he 
has had half enough sleep, he will be awaked 
in the early morning ; and the priests will 
come to him, and say : " There is an unfavour- 



HINDOO TALES. 329 

able conjunction of the planets ; evil omens 
have appeared ; there is danger impending ; 
the gods must be propitiated ; let a great 
sacrifice be made to-day. The brahmans are 
continually engaged in supplicating the gods 
on your behalf; your prosperity is dependent 
on their prayers ; they are miserably poor, and 
have many children to support ; let large do- 
nations be made." Thus the greedy wretches, 
under the pretence of religion, are continually 
robbing the king and enriching themselves. 

" ■ This is the sort of life which you will 
have to lead, if you give yourself up to the 
guidance of those greybeards ; and, after all, 
though you may have studied and studied, 
pored over their musty volumes, and listened 
to their tedious lectures, you are not sure of 
doing right. 

" ' And who are these fellows who set them- 



33° HINDOO TALES. 

selves up for wise men ? Do they always do 
right r Are they not often themselves cheated 
by the unlearned ? Common sense is far bet- 
ter than all this learning ; instinct and feeling 
will guide us in the right way ; even an infant 
without teaching finds out how to draw nourish- 
ment from the mother's breast. Cast aside, 
then, the rules and restrictions with which 
these old fools would bind you. Follow your 
natural inclinations, and enjoy life while you 
can. You possess youth, beauty, and strength. 
You have a large army, ten thousand ele- 
phants, and three hundred thousand horses ; 
your treasury is full of gold and jewels, and 
would not be emptied in a thousand years. 
What more would you have ? Life is short, 
and those who are always thinking of adding 
to their possessions, go on toiling to the last, 
and never really enjoy them. 



HINDOO TALES. 33I 

" ' But why should I waste your time with 
needless arguments ? I see you are already 
convinced. Commit, then, the cares of 
government to your ministers ; spend your 
time with your ladies, and congenial friends 
like me ; enjoy drinking, music, and dancing, 
and trouble yourself no more with affairs of 
state/ 

" Having thus spoken, he prostrated himself 
in very humble attitude at the feet of his 
master, who remained for a time silent, as 
if undecided. 

"The women, who had been listening with 
delight to all that was said, seeing his hesita- 
tion, assembled round him, and, with sweet 
words and caresses, easily persuaded him to 
follow his own inclination and theirs. 

" From that time the young king, given up 
entirely to pleasures and amusements, left the 



332 HINDOO TALES. 

affairs of the kingdom to his ministers ; and, 
while allowing them to manage as they 
pleased, provided they did not trouble him, 
openly treated them with insolence and 
neglect, and even took pleasure in hearing 
them ridiculed by the worthless parasites who 
surrounded him, so that even the wisest of 
his ministers, while lamenting the sad state of 
affairs, could only acknowledge their inability 
to remedy it, and wait till some great public 
calamity, or the invasion of the country by a 
neighbouring sovereign, who was gradually 
extending his dominions by force or cunning, 
should bring the young king to his senses. 

" Ere long, what they had expected came to 
pass ; for the King of Asmaka, who had for 
some time coveted the country, but did not 
dare openly to invade it while it was strong 
and prosperous, took measures in secret to 



HINDOO TALES. 333 



weaken the authority of Anantavarma, and 
diminish his resources ; and, lest he should 
perchance see the error of his ways and 
abandon his vicious courses, he secretly gave 
a commission to the son of one of his 
ministers, a young man of great abilities 
and agreeable manners, an eloquent flatterer 
and amusing companion, who arrived at 
the court of Anantavarma, attended by a 
numerous retinue, as if travelling about for 
his own pleasure. 

"This man soon became intimate with the 
king, and took care to fall in with all his 
tastes, and to justify and praise every pursuit 
w r hich he engaged in. 

"Thus, if he saw the king fond of hunting, 
he would say: 'What a fine manly sport this 
is ! How it strengthens the body, braces the 
spirits, and quickens the intelligence ! While 



334 HINDOO TALES. 

roaming over hill and dale, you become 
acquainted with the country ; by destroying 
the deer and wild buffaloes, you benefit the 
husbandmen ; by killing the tigers and other 
wild beasts, you make travelling safer/ And 
he would go on in this way, without any 
allusion to the damage and destruction caused 
by the king's hunting expeditions. 

" If gambling was the favourite amusement, 
or there was excessive devotion to women, or 
to drinking, he would very ingeniously bring 
forward everything that could be said in 
favour of them, passing over their disad- 
vantages in silence. If the king was lavish 
to his dependants, he would praise his 
generosity ; if cruel, he would say : 4 Such 
severity is good ; you maintain your own 
dignity by it ; a king ought not to be like 



HINDOO TALES. 335 

a patient devotee, submitting to insults, and 
ready to forgive/ 

u In this manner that wicked wretch ob- 
tained great influence over the king, and 
employed it to lead him into all sorts of 
excesses. 

"With such an example before them, all 
classes gradually became corrupted. The 
magistrates neglected their duties, and 
thought only how they might enrich them- 
selves ; great criminals, who could bribe, 
escaped with impunity ; the weak were 
oppressed by the strong ; violence and 
robbery were rampant ; disturbances broke 
out on all sides ; and severe and indis- 
criminating punishments only stirred up 
indignation, without repressing crime. The 
revenue diminished, while expenditure was 



336 HINDOO TALES. 

increasing ; everywhere loud complaints were 
heard, and great distress prevailed. 

" As if all this were not sufficient, the cruel 
King of Asmaka sent emissaries in all direc- 
tions to mix unsuspectedly with the inhabitants 
of Vidarba, and do as much mischief as 
possible. 

" Some w r ould distribute subtle poisons in 
various ways ; some would stir up quarrels 
between neighbouring villages, and so cause 
party fights ; some contrived to let loose a 
furious elephant into a crowd, or get up an 
alarm by other means, and so cause a sudden 
panic, in which the people trampled down 
each other, and many lives were lost ; others, 
disguised as hunters, promising abundance of 
game, would tempt men into some narrow 
valley, between high mountains, where they 
were devoured by tigers, or, unable to find 



HINDOO TALES. 



their way out again, perished of hunger and 
thirst. 

" By these and many other devices, they 
succeeded in destroying life and weakening 
the country, so that less resistance might be 
offered to the invader. 

"Then, thinking the time to be arrived, the 
King of Asmaka prepared for war. Mean- 
while, his emissary was leading on the foolish 
young king to destruction ; and at this very 
time, as if in perfect security, he was amusing 
himself with the performances of a cele- 
brated actress and dancer, having, at the 
instigation of his treacherous friend, per- 
suaded her, by large donations, to leave the 
King of Kuntala, with whom she was a great 
favourite. 

"Indignant at such an insult, that king 
was easily persuaded to join the King of 

z 



33o HINDOO TALES. 

Asmaka, who had already obtained several 
other allies eager to have a share in the 
expected conquest and plunder. 

"Thus, when the country was actually 
invaded, no effectual resistance was made ; 
Anantavarma was easily defeated, and fell 
into the power of his cruel enemy. 

"The cunning King of Asmaka, who had 
gained his allies by many liberal promises, 
had no intention of sharing the conquered 
country with any one ; he professed, how- 
ever, great disinterestedness ; declared that he 
should be contented with a very small part ; 
and, having desired his allies to arrange 
between themselves what each should take, 
contrived, by his intrigues, to make them 
quarrel over the division. The result was 
that they fought with, and so weakened each 
other, that he was able to disregard their 



HINDOO TALES. 339 

claims, and to annex the whole of the con- 
quered country to his own dominions. 

" After the defeat and death of Ananta- 
varma, an old and faithful minister escaped 
with the queen and her two children, this boy 
and his elder sister Manjuvadini, together 
with a few faithful followers, including myself; 
and though the old minister was taken ill 
and died on the road, the rest arrived safely 
at Mahishmati, where the queen was well 
received by the king Amittravarma, a half- 
brother of her husband, and where she 
devoted herself to the education of her son, 
hoping that he might one day recover his 
father's kingdom. 

" After a time, however, that king sought 
to marry his brother s widow ; and, having 
been rejected by her, determined to take 
revenge by killing her son. 



34° HINDOO TALES. 

" The queen, having discovered his inten- 
tions, sent for me, and said: 'My life is 
wrapped up in this boy ; I can endure any- 
thing, so long as he is safe ; take him and 
make your escape at once ; I know not where 
to send you, but if you can find a safe refuge, 
let me know, and I will come to you, if 
possible/ 

" In obedience to her commands, I took the 
boy, succeeded in escaping with him, and 
reached a shepherd's hut on the borders of this 
forest. There we stayed a few days till I saw 
a man whom I suspected to be searching for 
us. Fearing discovery, I left the cottage, and 
entered the forest. Here, while trying to get 
water to quench the poor child's burning 
thirst, I slipped into the well, where I should 
have perished but for your timely assistance ; 
and now, having done us this kindness, will 



HINDOO TALES. 341 

you add to it by protecting the boy, and 
helping us to reach a place of safety V 

"Who was his mother?" I asked. "Of 
what family was she ?" 

u She is the daughter of the King of Chide," 
he answered, " and her mother was Sagara- 
datta, daughter of Vaisravana, a merchant of 
Pataliputra." 

" If so," I replied, " she and my father are 
cousins by the mother's side ; this boy is 
therefore my relation, and has a right to my 
protection." 

The old man was much pleased at hearing 
this, and I promised not only to protect the 
boy, but to contrive some means for reinstat- 
ing him in his proper position, and over- 
coming that wicked King of Asmaka with 
cunning equal to his own. 

For the present, however, the most needful 



342 HINDOO TALES. 

thing was to procure food. While I was con- 
sidering how to obtain this, two deer passed, 
pursued by a forester, who shot three arrows 
and missed them, and, in despair, let fall his 
bow and two remaining arrows. Hastily 
snatching up these, I discharged the arrows 
in rapid succession, and killed both the deer ; 
one of them I gave to the hunter, the other I 
prepared, and roasted a part of it for our- 
selves. 

The forester was astonished by my skill, 
and delighted at the acquisition of so much 
food ; and it occurred to me that I might get 
some information from him. I asked him 
therefore : " Do you know anything of what 
is going on at Mahishmati ?" 

" I was there early this morning/' he 
answered, " for I had a tiger skin and other 
skins to sell, and great festivities were in 



HINDOO TALES. 343 

preparation ; the Prince Prachandavarma, the 
king's younger brother, is about to marry the 
Princess Manjuvadini, and the rejoicings are 
on this account. " 

After the forester was gone, I said to the old 
man (whose name was Nalijangha) : "That 
wretch Amittravarma is trying to make it up 
with his sister-in-law by promoting a good 
marriage for her daughter ; no doubt he thinks 
to persuade her to recall her son, that he may 
have him in his power. Do you therefore 
leave the boy with me, and go back at once 
to his mother. Tell her how you have met 
With me, and that the child is quite safe under 
my protection ; but give out in public that he 
has been carried off and devoured by a tiger. 
I shall come to the city disguised as a beggar ; 
do you wait for me near the cemetery." 

All this he promised to do, and set off 



344 HINDOO TALES. 

immediately, having first received further 
directions for the guidance of the queen. 

After some days, it was generally under- 
stood at Mahishmati that the boy who had 
escaped into the forest had been killed by a 
tiger ; and the king, secretly rejoicing, went 
to condole with the mother. She appeared 
as if greatly distressed by the news, and said 
to him : " I look upon the death of my son as 
a judgment upon me for not complying with 
your wishes, and am therefore now ready to 
become your wife/' 

The old wretch was delighted at her com- 
pliance, and preparations were made for the 
marriage. 

On the appointed day, in the presence of a 
numerous assembly, she took a small leafy 
branch, and dipping it in what appeared to 
be water, but which really contained a deadly 



HINDOO TALES. 345 

poison, struck him gently with it on the face, 
saying : " If you are acting right, this will not 
injure you ; if you are sinning in taking me, 
your brother s wife, and I am faithful to my 
husband, may this be like the blow of a sword 
to you/' 

Such was the strength of the poison that 
he fell dead almost instantaneously. Then 
dipping the same branch into other water con- 
taining an antidote, she struck her daughter 
in a similar manner; and, as no injury 
followed, the spectators were fully convinced 
that the death of Amittravarma was a punish- 
ment from heaven. 

Soon after this (by my directions, and in 
order to throw him off his guard), she said to 
Prachandavarma : " The throne is now vacant ; 
you should occupy it at once, and make my 
daughter your queen." 



346 HINDOO TALES. 

He listened to the suggestion ; and, as the 
young boy, the nephew of the late king, was 
supposed to be dead, no opposition was made 
by the people. 

Then the Queen Vasundhara (also by my 
directions) sent for some of the late king's 
ministers, and of the elders of the city, whom 
she knew to be ill-affected towards Prachan- 
davarma, and said to them : " Last night the 
goddess Durga appeared to me in a vision, 
and said : t Your child is safe ; I myself, in 
the form of a tigress, carried him away, to 
save him from his enemies. In four days 
from this time Prachandavarma will suddenly 
die ; on the fifth day let all the authorities 
assemble round my temple on the bank of 
the river, and close the doors, after having 
ascertained that no one is concealed inside. 
After waiting one hour, the door will open 



HINDOO TALES. 347 

and a young brahman will come forth, hold- 
ing- your son by the hand. That boy will 
become King of Yidarba, and that brahman 
is to marry 3~our daughter/ " 

After the divine manifestation in favour of 
the queen when Amittravarma was struck 
dead, this account of the vision was readily 
believed by her hearers, who promised to 
keep the secret and to be guided by her 
directions. 

When the fourth day arrived I entered the 
city, disguised as a beggar, and brought the 
boy to his delighted mother, who introduced 
me to her daughter, whom I greatly admired, 
and she, though agitated, was evidently 
pleased with me, even under such a dis- 
guise. 

I did not venture to stay long, and after 
receiving an alms and assuring the queen 



34& HINDOO TALES. 

that the imagined dream would prove true, 
I went away, taking the boy with me, and at 
parting, in order to deceive her attendants, 
she said aloud : " Your application shall not 
have been in vain ; I will take care to protect 
your boy." 

Nalijangha, the old servant whom I had 
rescued in the forest, met me on my arrival, 
and was waiting at the place which I had 
appointed. I went to him there and asked 
him for information as to the movements and 
occupations of the new king. " That doomed 
man," he answered, " thinking all obstacles 
removed, and rejoicing at his accession to 
power, is now amusing himself in the palace 
gardens, with a number of actors, tumblers, 
and dancing girls." 

" I could not have a better opportunity," I 
replied ; " do you therefore stay here with the 



HINDOO TALES. 349 

boy, and wait for me in this old ruin. I shall 
not be long gone." 

I then dressed myself in the clothes of a 
tumbler, which I had brought with me for the 
purpose, went boldly into the garden, presented 
myself to the king, and asked for permission 
to exhibit my skill before him. This was 
readily granted ; an opportunity was soon 
given me of showing what I could do, and I 
obtained much applause from the spectators. 
After a time I begged some of those present 
to lend me their knives, and I caused much 
astonishment b}' the way in which I appeared 
to balance myself on the points. Then, still 
holding one of the knives, I imitated the 
pouncing of a hawk and an eagle, and having 
by degrees got near the king, I threw the 
knife with such good aim, that it pierced him 
to the heart, and I shouted out at the same 



35° HINDOO TALES. 

time, "Long live Vasantabhanu!" that it 
might be supposed I had been sent by him. 
After this, dashing by the guards, who tried 
to stop me, I suddenly leaped over the wall, 
and before any of my pursuers could cross it, 
1 had run a long way on the other side. 
Doubling back, I got behind a great heap of 
bricks, and from thence, concealed by the 
trees, succeeded in reaching the ruins un- 
observed. Here I changed my clothes and 
went back to the city, as if nothing had 
happened. 

In order to have everything ready for my 
intended concealment, I had gone secretly 
the day before to the Temple of Durga, and 
had there made an underground chamber, 
communicating with the interior through an 
opening in the wall, which was carefully 
closed with a large stone, and now, taking 



HINDOO TALES. 351 

the boy with me, I entered the hiding place, 
having been furnished with suitable dresses 
and ornaments, sent by the queen, through 
Nalijangha. 

The assassination of Prachandavarma was 
universally attributed to his enemy, the King 
of Asmaka, and the first part of the prophecy 
of Durga, as told by the queen, being thus 
accomplished, there was no doubt, on the part 
of those who were in the secret, as to the 
fulfilment of the remainder. 

In the morning a great crowd was as- 
sembled round the temple ; for although the 
secret of the queen's vision had been kept, 
it was generally understood that something 
wonderful was to take place there. 

Presently the queen and her attendants 
arrived, entered the building, and paid their 
devotions to the goddess, after which the 



35 2 HINDOO TALES. 

whole temple was carefully searched, to make 
sure that no one was concealed there, and 
all having withdrawn, the doors were closed, 
and the people stood without in silence, anx- 
iously awaiting the pleasure of the goddess. 

A band then began to play and the kettle- 
drums were loudly struck, so that the sound 
reached me in the hiding-place. At this, 
which was the preconcerted signal, I made a 
great effort, moved the large stone, and came 
forth with the boy into the temple. Having 
changed our dresses, I placed the old ones in 
the hole, carefully refitted the stone, and 
throwing the temple door wide open, stood 
in front of the astonished multitude, holding 
the young prince by the hand. 

While they were gazing in bewilderment, 
I thus addressed them : " The great goddess 
Durga, who lately showed herself in a vision 



HINDOO TALES. 353 

to the queen, has been pleased to restore to 
his longing mother this child, whom she, in 
the form of a tigress, had carried away, and 
she commands you, by my mouth, to accept 
him as your sovereign. 5 ' 

Then turning to the queen, I said : — 
" Receive your child from the hands of 
Durga, who will henceforth protect him as 
her own son ; and by her command accept 
me as the husband of your daughter." 

To the ministers and elders I said : — " The 
goddess has brought me here, not merely 
as a messenger of her will, but as a defender 
of your country from that wicked King of 
Asmaka, whose cruel and unscrupulous in- 
trigues are well known ; accept me, therefore, 
as your deliverer, and as the guardian of the 
young king appointed by Durga." 

Upon this all broke out into loud acclama- 
A A 



354 HINDOO TALES. 

tions, saying : " Great is the power of the 
glorious Durga ! happy the country of which 
you are the protector!" and I was conducted 
in triumph to the palace, together with the 
queen, who could now openly show her joy 
at the recovery of her son. 

So well had I managed, that no suspicion 
arose of the deception which had been prac- 
tised, and all the people venerated the young 
king as being especially under the protection 
of the goddess, and me as the agent chosen 
by her for his restoration. 

Thus my authority was well established. 
I caused, in due time, the young prince to 
be formally proclaimed king, and had him 
carefully educated ; and I myself received the 
hand of the lovely Manjuvadini, as the reward 
of my services and in obedience to the com- 
mands of Durga. 



HINDOO TALES. 355 

After some time, however, I began to 
reflect : " Though my position now seems 
quite secure, yet, after all, I am a foreigner 
here, and when the first burst of admiration is 
over, people may perhaps begin to ask, ' Who 
is this stranger who has come among us in 
such a mysterious manner ? and what is he 
that he should thus lord it over us?' And 
it occurred to me that if I could make friends 
with an old and much-respected minister, 
named Aryaketu, so as to trust him entirely, 
he might be of great assistance to me/' 

Before, however, making any overtures to 
him, I desired Nalijangha to try him secretly 
and ascertain his feelings towards me. 

My agent, therefore, had many interviews 
with him, and tried to persuade him that it 
was not for the good of the country that a 
stranger and foreigner should occupy such an 



356 HINDOO TALES. 

important position, which ought rather to be 
held by a native, and that it would be very 
desirable to get rid of me. 

To all this Aryaketu answered : " Do not 
speak against so good a man, and one of such 
wonderful ability, endowed w r ith such great 
courage, generosity, and kindness. So many 
good qualities are rarely found united in one 
person. I esteem the country very fortunate 
in having such a ruler, and am convinced, 
that through him the King of Asmaka will 
one day be driven out, and our prince estab- 
lished on his father's throne. Nothing shall 
induce me to plot against such a man." 

After hearing this from Nalijangha, I tried 
the old minister in various ways, and seeing 
no reason to doubt his fidelity and attach- 
ment, I gave him my full confidence, and 
found him a most useful friend. 



HINDOO TALES. 357 

With his advice and assistance, I was able 
to appoint efficient officers in every depart- 
ment. I encouraged religion and punished 
heresy ; I kept each of the four castes in their 
proper sphere, and without oppressing the 
people, I collected a large revenue, for there 
is nothing worse than weakness in a ruler, 
and without money he cannot be strong. 
[Here the story breaks off abruptly.] 



LITERAL TRANSLATIONS. 

Page 244. 

TV TY LORD, I, having a common cause 
with my friends of wandering, saw 
among the Suhmans, in the outer park of a 
city called Damalipta, a great festal crowd. 
There, in a bower of Atimukta creepers, I 
saw a certain young man amusing himself 
with the sound of a lute. I asked him : 
" Worthy sir, what is this festival called ? 
on what account is this beginning? or 
through what cause do you stand in solitude, 
accompanied (only) by your lute, as if out 
of spirits, not having done honour to the 
festival?" 

He replied: "The King of Suhma, called 



HINDOO TALES. 359 

Tungadhanwa, being without offspring, begged 
from the feet of Durga, called Vindhyava- 
sini,* dwelling in this abode, having her love 
for the abode in Vindhya forgotten, two 
children, and by her in a vision to him 
sleeping near (her temple) direction was 
given : ' There shall be produced of thee one 
son, and one daughter shall be born ; but 
he shall be in subjection to her husband. 
But let her, beginning from the seventh year 
till her marriage, propitiate me every month 
while the moon is in Krittika (the constella- 
tion of the Pleiades), w T ith the ball-dance, 
for the obtaining an excellent husband j and 
whom she likes, to him she is to be given : 
and let this festival be called the Ball Fes- 
tival/ So she said. 

" Then in a very short time the beloved 

* The inhabitant of Vindhya. 



360 HINDOO TALES. 

queen of the king, named Medini, bore a 
son, and a daughter was born at the same 
time. That damsel, called Kandukavati, will 
to-day propitiate the goddess having the 
moon as a diadem. 

"But her friend, Chandrasena by name, 
her foster-sister, was beloved of me ; and in 
these days she has been violently besieged 
by the king's son Bhimadhanwa. Therefore 
I, distressed, perplexed at heart by the pain 
of the arrow-darts of Kama, somewhat con- 
soling myself with the soft tones of the lute, 
occupy a solitary place." 

And at that moment there came near a cer- 
tain sound of anklets, and a certain lady 
came up. He indeed having seen her, with 
eyes opened wide, having risen up, having 
been embraced by her, sat down ; and he said : 
" This is the (lady) dear as my life, separa- 



HINDOO TALES. 361 

tion from whom, burning as it were, burns 
me up ; and by that prince the robber of 
this, my life, I am brought to a state of 
coldness, as if by death ; and I shall not be 
able, saying he is the king's son, to practise 
loyalty towards him ; therefore, having caused 
myself to be favourably regarded by her, I 
will abandon a life which has no remedy." 

But she, with her face full of tears, said : 
" O beloved, do not, on my account, engage 
in violence. Thou, who having been born 
of a worthy merchant, Arthadasa, wast called 
Kosadasa by thy parents, art called by thy 
enemies Vesadasa (slave of a girl), from thy 
excessive attachment to me. Thou thyself 
being dead, I should imagine the popular 
saying would be (he was) Nrisansa-Vesa — 
the slave of a wicked one. But now take 
me to any place you will/ 1 



362 HINDOO TALES. 



But he said to me : " Friend, in the 
regions seen by you, which was (the most) 
prosperous, abounding in corn, and having 
the greatest number of good men!" 

To him, having laughed a little, I said : 
" Wide is this (world bounded by) ocean and 
sky. There is no end of pleasant regions in 
one place or another. But, indeed, if I 
should not be able to produce some plan 
causing you to live comfortably here, then, 
indeed, I will show you the way." 

Meanwhile, the sounds of jewel-anklets 
arose. Now she, in a hurry, said : " My 
lord's daughter Kandukavati is come to 
propitiate Durga with playing at ball ; and 
she is of unforbidden sight in this Kanduka 
(ball) festival. May the eye of you going to 
see her be successful ; I must be keeping 



HINDOO TALES. 363 

near her/' So saying, she went away, and 
we two followed her. 

I first saw the red-lipped (lady) standing 
on the floor of a jewelled stage; and she, 
seen by me a stranger and at a distance, 
immediately settled in my heart. And I, 
having my mind occupied by astonishment, 
thought : " Is this Lakshmi ? for the lotus is 
not placed in her hand ; but in her (Lakshmi's) 
hand there is a lotus, and she (the goddess) 
has been all enjoyed by Vishnu, and by 
former kings ; but in this (lady) there is 
unimpaired faultless youth." 

While I was thus reflecting, she, faultless 
in every limb, touching the ground with the 
tips of her stretched-out fingers, having her 
dark curled locks shaken, having with agitation 
saluted the mighty goddess, took hold of the 
ball, resembling (in colour) the god without 



364 HINDOO TALES. 

a body [i.e. Kama) having his eye reddened 
by no slight passion ; and having dropped 
it with graceful languor to the ground, having 
struck it, gently rising, with her bud-like 
hand having the delicate fingers stretched 
out, the thumb a little bent ; having thrown 
it up with the back of the hand, she caught 
it observed with active grace, in the air as 
it fell like a bunch of flowers joined with 
a circle of bees ; and she discharged it in 
middling slow and quick musical time, throw- 
ing it very gently ; and at that moment she 
displayed a quick movement with her feet ; 
and when it stopped, she caused it to rise 
up with numerous blows ; and, contrarywise, 
she caused it to rest ; and she made it rise 
up like a bird, striking it regularly with her 
left and right hands when it was come 
straight to her jside, and having caught it 



HINDOO TALES. 365 

fallen when it had risen to a very great 
height, she practised a song-step ; and having 
caused it to go up in various directions, 
she made it come back again. Thus sport- 
ing sweetly in various ways, accepting the 
words of praise loudly spoken at every 
moment by the people with their feelings 
interested come near to the stage, she stands 
turned towards me (who was) leaning on the 
shoulder of Kosadasa, having just then con- 
fidence produced in me, with flushed cheek 
and wide expanded eye. Then she being 
caused to have a glancing look like that of 
Kandarpa when first descended to earth, 
corresponding therewith having her grace- 
fully-curved creeper* eyebrows sportively 
playing ; with the network of the rays of 
light of her lips oscillated by the waves of 

* Resembling tendrils. 



366 HINDOO TALES. 

the wind of her breath, like twigs moved in 
sport, as if beating off the bees eager to 
catch the perfume of her lotus-face. In the 
circular whirlings of the ball (caused) by- 
very rapid striking, entering, as it were, a 
flowery cage, through bashfulness at sight 
of me ; in the Panchavindhu movement shak- 
ing off, as if through fear, the five arrows of 
Kama simultaneously falling (on her]; in 
the Gomuttrika steps quivering like the 
brightness shown in the cloud imitating 
forked lightning ; in the harmonious move- 
ments of her feet, having the time kept by 
the sound of the jewelled ornaments ; with 
her lower lip suffused with the brightness 
of a furtive smile ; with the mass of her 
locks put up again when fallen down ; with 
her jewelled girdle-belt sounding by knock- 
ing together ; with the brightness of her 



HINDOO TALES. 367 

muslin dress, agitated as it rested on her 
gracefully prominent full hips ; with the 
beautiful ball, struck by the quivering, bent, 
and extended arms ; with the arms like a 
loop, turned downwards ; with her graceful 
hair reaching to the end of the back, rolled 
round upwards ; with the game continued 
(and) not neglected from her rapidity in 
putting up the fallen-down golden leaf of 
the ear-ring ; with the ball whirled inwards 
and outwards by the feet and hands throwing 
it up repeatedly; with the necklace lost to 
sight through bending down and rising up ; 
the pearls without separation in falling and 
rising; with the wind of the little branch 
(stuck) in (or behind) the ear engaged in 
drying up the paint of the cheek spoilt by 
the perspiration breaking forth ; with one 
hand engaged in holding back on the surface 



368 HINDOO TALES. 

of her bosom the falling muslin dress ; 
sitting down and rising up, closing and 
opening her eyes, striking on the ground or 
in the air, with one ball or more than one, 
she showed various sorts of play worth 
looking at. 

Page 36. 

After that, a certain damsel, adorned with 
a quantity of ornaments, made of jewels, 
who had become the chief of the whole race 
of women in the world, attended by a 
numerous train of modest female friends, 
having the gait of a swan, having come up 
softly, having made an offering to the most 
excellent brahman of one jewel of the form 
(colour) of flame, being asked by him : " Who 
art thou ? " 

Sorrowfully, with a low murmuring voice, 



HINDOO TALES. 369 

very gently, in a submissive attitude, said : " O 
excellent brahman, I am the daughter of a 
chief of Asuras, Kalindi by name. My father, 
the ruler of this world, great in dignity, in a 
battle in which the immortals were removed 
to a distance, was made a guest of the city 
of Yama by Vishnu, impatient of his own 
valour. Me, immersed in an ocean of grief 
at separation from him, a certain compas- 
sionate perfected devotee told : ' Damsel, a cer- 
tain mortal, bearing a divine body, having 
become thv new husband, shall rule over 
the whole of Patala/" 

Page 309. 
Having propitiated with clasped hands, 
put together in the form of the red lotus, 
the mass of rays coloured by the red sandal- 
wood body of the thousand-eyed elephant of 

B B 



370 HINDOO TALES. 



the eastern quarter having a thousand flames, 
the witness of things (which ought) to be 
done and not to be done, the unique sea- 
monster leaping over the row of cloud-waves 
of the celestial ocean, the graceful actor 
dancing on the stage of the golden rock, 
the one lion the tearer of the scented elephant 
of nocturnal darkness, the jewel arranged at 
the top of the pearl necklace the canopy of 
the stars ; I went to my own dwelling. And 
three days being gone, when the lord of day 
had a splendour of colour common to it with 
the red chalk side of the peak of the western 
mountain, and was looking like the orb of 
one bosom of the Goddess of Twilight, united 
with the body of Siva, under the name of 
atmosphere, for the disparagement of the 
daughter of the king of mountains; that 
king also having come, stood in humble 



HINDOO TALES. 371 

attitude, having his diadem eclipsed by the 
rays from the nails of the feet of this person 
placed on the ground ; and he was thus 
addressed : — 



PROPER NAMES, ETC., OCCURRING IN 
THE TALES. 



Atoka, a mountain inhabited by Kuvera and the Yakshas. 

Ambdlika, the daughter of Sinhavarma, wife of Mantragupta. 

Amittravarma, King or Governor of Mahishmati. 

Anantavarmciy King of Vidarba. 

Apahdravarma, son of Praharavarma, and one of the nine com- 
panions of Rajahansa. 

Apsaras, heavenly females, nearly corresponding with the houris 
of the Mahometans. 

Arthapdla, son of Kamapala, one of the nine companions of 
Rajahansa. 

Arthapati, a merchant at Champa, who wished to marry 
Kulapalika. 

Aryaketu, a minister and friend of Visruta. 

Asura, a general term for various supernatural beings not 
regarded as gods, but in general hostile to them, nearly the 
same as the jins or genii of the " Arabian Nights." 

Avantisundari, daughter of Manasara, wife of Rajavahana. 

Balabhadra, a merchant, husband of Ratnavati. 

Balachandrikdy wife of Pushpodbhava, and friend of Avanti- 
sundari. 

Bandhupala, a merchant, father of Balachandrika. 

Betel and pawn, a mixture for chewing, frequently offered in 
politeness, as snuff with us. 



PROPER NAMES, ETC. 373 



B heels, savages, wild tribes, robbers. 

Bhimadhanwa, brother of Kandukavati. 

Buddhist, a disciple of Buddha. Buddha was a Hindoo re- 
former, whose followers were once very numerous in India, 
but at the date of these stories had been much diminished 
in number, through the persecutions of the brahmans. They 
still, however, form a large part of the population of Ceylon, 
Thibet, China, and some other countries, though the com- 
paratively pure religion of the founder has for the most part 
degenerated into gross idolatry and unmeaning ceremonies. 

Chakravaka, name of a bird quoted for affection, as turtle-doves 
by us. 

Chandala, a pariah, outcast. 

Chandrasena, foster-sister of the Princess Kandukavati. 

Chdtaka y a bird supposed to be very fond of rain, and to make 
a loud noise at its approach. 

Dhana?nittra, husband of Kulapalika, friend of Apaharavarma. 

Dharmapala, one of Rajahansa's ministers. 

Dharmavardhana, King of Sravasti. 

Durga or Kali, wife of Siva, a terrific goddess, delighting in 
human sacrifices. 

Gauri, wife of Siva. 

Ghee, liquid butter, or butter which has been liquefied. 

Indra, the chief of the inferior gods, presiding over the clouds, 
rain, thunder, &c. 

Kailasa, a mountain, part of the Himalaya chain. 

Kalahakantaka, the man who fell in love with a portrait. 

Kali?idi, Queen of Patala, wife of Matanga. 

Kalpasundari, wife of Vikatavarma, afterwards of Upa- 
haravarma. 

Kama or Kandarpa, the God of Love. 

Kamamanjari, the actress who seduced the Muni. 



374 PROPER NAMES, ETC. 



Kdmapala, son of Dharmapala, minister and son-in-law of the 

King of Benares. 
Kanakalekha, daughter of the King of Kalinga, wife of Man- 

tragupta. 
Kandukavati, the princess who performed the ball-dance. 
Kantaka, the gaoler killed by Upaharavarma. 
Kantimati, the wife of Kamapala, mother of Arthapala. 
Kirdta, a savage, forester, Bheel. 
Kosaddsa, lover of Chandrasena. 
Kusa-grass, a scented grass, much used at sacrifices for laying 

offerings on, &c. 
Kuvera, the God of Wealth, whose attendants were the Yakshas. 
Magadha, the kingdom of Rajahansa. 
Mahdkdla, a famous temple of Siva, the object of many 

pilgrimages. 
Mahishmati, name of a city. 
Malaya, a mountain, or range of mountains, having many sandal 

trees, the perfume from which was supposed to be carried a 

long distance by the wind. 
Mdlwa, the kingdom of Manasara. 
Mdndpala, the officer who guarded Vamalochana. 
Manasara, King of Malwa, conqueror of Rajahansa. 
Manibhadra, a Yaksha, father of Taravali. 
Manjuvddini, daughter of Anantavarma, wife of Visruta. 
Mantra, a verse or chapter in the vedas, any prayer or words 

recited as a charm. 
Mdrichi, a great muni seduced by Kamamanjari. 
Matanga, a brahman who went down to Patala together with 

Rajavahana. 
Mithila, a city or country, called also Videha. 
Mitragupta, one of the nine companions of Rajavahana. 
Muni, a holy man devoted to study, meditation, and penance. 



PROPER NAMES, ETC. 375 



Xalijangha, the old man whom Yisruta rescued from the well. 
Xdrdyaiia, a name of Vishnu, an incarnation of the three prin- 
cipal gods, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva. 
Xava?ndlika i daughter of the King of Sravasti, wife of Pramati. 
Padmodbhava, one of Rajahansa's ministers. 
Patella, a fabulous subterranean country. 
Prachandarcarma, King or Governor of Mahishmati, killed by 

Visruta. 
Prahdravarma, King of Mithila, father of Apaharavarma and 

Upaharavarma. 
Priya?nvada, Queen of Praharavarma. 
Pumabhadra, the reformed robber, servant of Kamapala. 
Pushpapuri, the capital of Magadha. 
Rdga?nanjari, an actress, sister of Kamamanjari. 
Rdjahansa, king of Magadha, father of Rajavahana, the hero 

of the story. 
Rakshas or Rakshasas, evil spirits or ogres, hostile to men, 

whom they used to devour. 
Rati, a goddess, wife of Kama. 
Rishi, nearly the same as Muni, a holy man retired from the 

world, devoted to prayer and meditation. 
Satyavarma, son of a minister of Rajahansa, and father of 

Somadatta. 
Savara, fem. Savari, a savage, not a Hindoo. 
Siddha (literally perfected), a very holy devotee. 
Si?na?ita, a religious ceremony performed on behalf of a woman 

at a certain period of pregnancy. 
Sznhaghosha, the deposed King of Benares. 
Si?ihavar??ia, King of Anga, father of Ambalika. 
Sitavarma, one of Rajahansa's ministers. 
Sringdlika, the nurse of Ragamanjari. 



376 PROPER NAMES, ETC. 



Siva, one of the three chief gods or triad of the Hindoo?, 
Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu, who are sometimes regarded as 
one, sometimes confounded with each other. 

Sumantra, son of Dharmapala. 

Susruta, son of Padmodbhava. 

Tdrdvali, a Yaksha lady, wife of Kamapala. 

Vdmadeva, a holy man consulted by Rajahansa. 

Vdmalochana, daughter of Viraketu, wife of Somadatta. 

Vasumati, Queen of Rajahansa. 

Vasundhara, Queen of Anantavarma the King of Vidarba. 

Vidarba, name of a country. 

Videha, a country called also Mithila. 

Vidyddhara, one of the numerous demigods. 

Vidyeswara, the conjuror who married Rajavahana to Avanti- 
sundari. 

Vikatavar?na, King of Mithila, husband of Kalpasundari. 

Vimardaka, a keeper of a gaming house, employed by Apaha- 
ravarma. 

Viraketu, King of Patali, father of Vamalochana. 

Yaksha, a sort of demigod or fairy, a servant of Kuvera. 

Yama, God and Judge of the Infernal Regions. 

Yati, an ascetic, a devotee. 

Yavana, a Greek, an Arabian — any foreigner. 



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